Gail Wickman

Gail Koree (Rusher) Wickman, of Eugene, Oregon, and formerly of Bend and La Grande, Oregon, passed away on June 3, 2024. 

Gail was born April 20, 1940, in Sacramento, California, to Guy and Bernice (Peterson) Rusher. 

After a few years, the family, including Gail’s younger sister Sandy, moved to Tillamook, Oregon, where brother Pete was born. 

Gail was an excellent student, graduating with high honors from Tillamook High School and earning a full-ride science scholarship to Oregon State University. 

Always a Cheese Maker, Gail married Richard Christensen from Tillamook in 1960, and they had two sons – Jay and Jon. 

Gail appreciated and excelled at many things. She loved working with all the great people at CH2M Hill in Corvallis and the La Grande Police Department, where she was the administrative assistant for the Chief of Police. 

Gail especially enjoyed getting together with family and friends around the holidays and was well known for her amazing food fare – unrivaled gravy, sauces, deserts, and oyster stew in particular. She was a wonderful hostess. Always the life of the party, and always first on the dance floor, Gail wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Gail was very active most of her life. She excelled at water skiing, often heading to the Willamette River during her lunch break – no wet, no sweat and never having to change her clothes to go back to work. She also snow skied, spending time on the slopes for pleasure and as a volunteer with the Oregon Special Olympics. She enjoyed running as well, especially with her eldest son, Jay. For a time, she even brought along her Nordic Track when traveling (much to her husband Boyd Wickman’s chagrin). 

When relaxing, Gail liked to talk politics and was an avid reader. Above all, she was especially proud of the accomplishments of her two sons and her grandchildren. Gail is survived by son and daughter-in-law Jay and Terre Christensen, daughter- in-law Kathy Christensen, nephews Guy and Casey Rusher, and grandchildren Alexandra, Kai, Wyatt, and Garrett Christensen. She was preceded in death by her son Jon Christensen and brother Pete Rusher.