From the Office of Bishop Bob
In sadness, we share the news that Mrs. Gladys (Rickey) Wise, spouse of The Rev. John (Jack) Wise, died on Friday, July 2, 2021.
Mrs. Gladys (Rickey) Wise was born on July 1, 1928 on a family farm in Delmar, IA. She passed away one day after her 93rd birthday. Her life on the farm was busy with milking cows, collecting eggs, and baking with her grandma. Tragically, both of her parents were gone by the time she was fifteen. She finished high school and moved to Illinois with her brothers and stayed with family. She attended college at Northwestern University in downtown Chicago, IL where she earned a nursing degree and began a very successful career in nursing. Through the years, she served as a head nurse, floor nurse, director of nursing, and a nurse educator. Chicago is also where she met her future husband Jack Wise at a hamburger fry. They fell in love right away, were married in a year, and celebrated the birth of their first daughter ten months after their wedding. Two more children were born later. She was a loving, supportive, and caring mom who always had time for her children. Many wonderful memories were made throughout the years with numerous camping trips, times at a cabin, the making and sharing of meals with the family, and enjoying holidays together.
Her husband’s career as a minister took them all over the southwest where she was a beloved minister’s wife who was always by his side and supporting his ministry. Church and family were the most important things in her life. Her unwavering faith in God provided her with great strength during difficult times and gave her comfort as she met life’s challenges. She always said she was never alone because God was always with her up to the very end. Hers was a life well-lived and those who knew and loved her were blessed to call her wife, mom, grandma, aunt, and friend.
Rev. John (Jack) Wise was admitted on trial in the Southern California-Arizona Conference of the Methodist Church (MC) and was appointed to attend school in 1952. He served at Claypool in 1954 and then was admitted into full connection in 1955. He later served at Yuma: Trinity MC, Long Beach: South Gate MC, Fallbrook MC. In the Southern California-Arizona Conference of The United Methodist Church, he served Fallbrook UMC. In the Pacific & Southwest Conference, he served Fallbrook UMC; Tucson: St. James UMC; Las Vegas: University UMC; and in the Desert Southwest Conference, he served Las Vegas: University UMC and Phoenix: Trinity UMC. Rev. Wise retired in 1989.
A memorial service will be held on Monday July 12, 2021 at 1:00 pm at First United Methodist Church of Phoenix, 5510 N Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85013.
Condolences can be sent to:
Rev. John (Jack) Wise
1610 W Glendale Ave # CPW1293
Phoenix, AZ 85021-8948
Memorial Gifts may be made in memory of Gladys Wise to:
First United Methodist Church of Phoenix
5510 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85013
Remembering God’s word for us, we give thanks to God who gives us the victory over death through Jesus Christ. With gratitude for the life of Mrs. Gladys (Rickey) Wise, please hold her family and friends in prayer at this time.
