Rev. Willie D. Wanzo Sr.

REVEREND WILLIE D. WANZO, SR. OCTOBER 13, 1926 - OCTOBER 23, 2012 On October 13, 1926, Reverend Willie D. Wanzo, Sr. was born a sharecropper's son in Pike County, Mississippi. He accepted Christ as his personal Savior under ,the leadership of Reverend Ned Taylor of St. James Missionary Baptist Church during a church revival in the second week of August. In order to make a better life for himself, he moved to Milwaukee in August of 1951. He united with Metropolitan Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend A. W. Wise. Reverend Wanzo worked hard at Metropolitan. He served as a deacon, assistant Sunday School teacher and supervisor. He accepted his call to the ministry in August of 1955, serving as an Assistant Pastor of Metropolitan from 1955 to 1972 under the leadership of the late Reverend E. M. Kelly, Sr. Reverend Wanzo was appointed Interim Pastor of Metropolitan in August of 1972 and installed as Pastor in August of 1973. Reverend Wanzo has attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering and Milwaukee Area Technical College. He has taken correspondencecourses from such notable institutions as the American Baptist Institute of Chicago, The Moody Bible Institute and the Christ Church. Reverend Wanzo was a community leader and received numerous awards including the NAACP Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award and the Community Journal Black Excellence Award. Reverend Wanzo was a devoted father, grandfather, and loving husband. He was a true man of God. He loved the Lord and it was demonstrated in all that he did. He loved the Metropolitan Church family and served faithfully for sixty years- forty years as Pastor and twenty years as Assistant Pastor. He led by example. He had a humble and giving spirit and was always ready to help those in need. He loved education and was a voracious reader. In one year, he read a thousand books. His love for education was evident in his teaching preaching. style. For 54 years, Reverend Wanzo was married to Grand Lady Gladys Wanzo until her passing in 2004. Rev. Wanzo leaves to cherish his memory--five children, Dr. Cassandra Wanzo of Atlanta, GA, Cathy Wanzo and Regina Wanzo of Milwaukee, WI, Willie Jr. (Victoria L.) Wanzo of Gulfport, MS, and Marcus Wanzo Sr. (Victoria S.) of Milwaukee, WI; six grandchildren, Lisa Parson (Timothy), Taj Wanzo, Raymond PirtleJr., Jamal Wanzo, Marcus Wanzo Jr. and Sharron Thomas; great grandchild, Brooklynn Wanzo; one sister, Bertha Bullock (Eugene); one brother, Melvin Wanzo Sr. (Warrine); two sisters-in-law, Annie McMorris and Dorothy Wanzo; adopted granddaughter, LaSalle Sellers; nieces, nephews, Godchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Reverend Wanzo was preceded in death by his parents, Elijah and Myra Wanzo; one sister, Ora Lee Magee; and brothers, Leroy Wanzo and Roosevelt Wanzo. One of his favorite scriptures was: "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me." Philippians 4: 13

Rev. Willie D. Wanzo Sr.

October 13, 1926 - October 23, 2012