Gerry W. Fromme (1937 – 2014)

Champagne and Aishihik First Nations elder Gerry Fromme was the first-born son of Fran Weller. He had brothers Al and Wayne, and sisters Maxine and Joan. They grew up at the family cabin at Kluane Lake. At age eighteen Gerry joined the Canadian Air Force. He was stationed in Montreal when he met a nurse, his future wife Rita. They were married in 1958 and after his Air Force service ended they moved to Whitehorse. Their first son Stephen was born in 1961. Gerry worked for Northern Commercial Caterpillar and transferred to manage the Fairbanks and Juneau offices. Second son Michael was born in 1965. The Fromme family placer mine opened on Arch Creek in 1984 and Gerry, Rita, and Michael worked with his brothers during the summer. Gerry and Rita returned to live in the Yukon ten years later and Gerry worked for the Whitehorse Correction Centre. Rita nursed at McCauley Lodge and at the Whitehorse General Hospital. They retired to their home on Marsh Lake. Gerry was diagnosed with Parkinson's five years before he died.¹⁾