Lauri Gatterman

Lauri Anne Gatterman, 58 of Tracy, CA passed away on April 3, 2021 following a courageous battle with cancer. Lauri was born in Merrill, WI, November 1, 1962, the daughter of Helen and Clifford Gatterman of Merrill.  She graduated as Valedictorian from Merrill Senior High School in 1980 and received a Bachelor of Science Degrees in both Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Following graduation, she moved to California to begin a career as a software engineer assisting in the design of a security console project at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.  She married Gary Witz in 1987.  They later divorced.  Lauri then began teaching mathematics and computer science at Heald College in Hayward, CA before starting Budding Geniuses, an educational enrichment science program in the San Francisco Bay Area. She later married Bobby Roth in California.

Lauri’s joy in life was her children.  She loved family time playing board games, singing favorite songs, watching movies, listening to daughter Lexi sing, attending church activities, going on special outings with her children and helping them learn.

She enjoyed traveling back to Wisconsin to visit with family and friends on several occasions and was happy that she could visit with them all in 2019 when she returned for a Gatterman family reunion. During that trip, she was able to share the beauty of Wisconsin with some of her children.

Lauri is survived by husband, Bobby Roth; and children Justin and Lexi Gatterman of Tracy, CA; Ashley (Kenneth Huckins) Gatterman, Waynesboro, VA; Matthew (Stephanie Galo) Gatterman and grandson, Nikolaus, of San Leandro, CA; and Brandon Gatterman of Albany, CA. She is further survived by her siblings; Kathleen (Edward) Martinsen of Stevens Point, WI; Christine (Ronald) Weseloh of Custer, WI; and William (Patricia) Gatterman of Aurora, CO, as well as seven nieces and nephews, and thirteen great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Clifford Gatterman.

Visitation for friends and family will be held at Waid Funeral Home, 301 South Eagle Drive, Merrill, WI beginning at 10:00 a.m., Monday, April 12, 2021. The funeral service will be held at the funeral home at 11:00 a.m., and burial will follow at Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery. Pastor Mike Southcombe will officiate.

Masks and social distancing will be required at the funeral home.

The service will be live streamed for those unable to attend.  It can be found under her obituary on the funeral home website and will begin at 11:00 a.m.

Waid Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements.  Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.waidfuneral.com.