Fr. Gerald Byron Witzemann died peacefully at St. Elizabeth Hospice on the morning of February 5, 2023. Fr. Gerry was 88 years old. Gerald Leo Witzemann was born on July 19, 1934, in St. Bernard, and was the youngest of three children of Clifford J. and Viola (Henke) Witzemann. He was baptized at St. Clement (St. Bernard, Ohio) on July 29, 1934. After attending St. Clement grade school, he did his preparatory studies at St. Francis High School Seminary in Mt Healthy, Ohio and invested as a Franciscan in 1952 where he received the name “Byron”. He furthered his education at Duns Scotus in Southfield, Michigan, and then advanced his studies in theology at Holy Family Theologate in Oldenburg, Indiana, and St Leonard College in Centerville, Ohio. He was ordained a Franciscan priest on June 13, 1961, by Bishop Rembert Kowalski of Wuhan, China at St. Leonard College. He celebrated his first mass on June 18, 1961, at St. Clement with his newly ordained St Clement classmates – Fr. Berard Doerger (deceased) and Fr. Bruce Hausfeld. Father Witzemann received his first assignment on June 13, 1961, as student priest at St. Leonard College. Other assignments by the Franciscans included St. Francis Friary in Over-the-Rhine, Mother of Good Counsel in Hazard, Kentucky, St. Anthony in Streator, Illinois, St. Boniface, Louisville, Kentucky and St. Joseph in Escanaba, Michigan. In 1973 he started the incardination process from the Franciscan Order to the Diocese of Covington. While under the Covington Diocese, his assignments started at Good Shepherd Parish in Louisville, Kentucky and included serving as Associate at St. Pius X in Edgewood, Corpus Christi in Newport, and St. Paul in Florence. He was appointed Pastor at St. Joseph in Warsaw, Kentucky, St. Edward in Owenton, Kentucky, and Transfiguration of Our Lord Mission in Perry Park, Kentucky., and then at St. Patrick in Taylor Mill. After a brief retirement, he was then appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph in Warsaw and St. Edward in Owenton until he retired again in June 2019. Fr. Gerry was preceded in his death by his parents, his sister Verna A. Lakes and a nephew Timothy J. Lakes. He is survived by his sister, Janet L. Roth, numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. He is also survived by his friend of many years, Greg Frank, and lots of other friends whom he met through his various assignments. In lieu of flowers memorials made be made in care of: FriarWorks 1615 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 or St. Joseph Church P.O. Box 495, Warsaw, Kentucky 41095 – Fr. Gerry Fund. Personal expression of sympathy can be sent to the family to Janet Roth P.O. Box 11028 Cincinnati, Ohio 45211. There will be two masses held for Fr. Gerry. The first mass will be held at St. Clement Church in St. Bernard on February 24 at 11:00 am with visitation beforehand from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. The second mass will be held in early Summer at St. Joseph Church in Warsaw, Kentucky – the date and time will be announced later. There will be no burial at this time because Fr. Witzemann has donated his body to science. Online condolences may be expressed on Facebook or at Serenity FuneralCare.com