Family, Friends, Celebrate Gerry Wegner’s Retirement

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Family, friends and coworkers gathered last week in Columbus to recognize the retirement of Varment Guard’s Dr. Gerry Wegner, the company’s longtime technical director/part-owner, and one of the pest control industry’s leading educators and goodwill ambassadors.

Wegner, an Illinois native and graduate of Loyola University (Ill.) and Ohio State University, came to Varment Guard in 1985, after a five-year stint working for A-1 Pest Control, Columbus, Ohio (1981-1985). During the next 30 years, Wegner would become part-owner, technical director and chief entomologist. He's trained countless numbers of service professionals and has helped solve innumerable problems for customers both at Varment Guard and through its Copesan network affiliations.

In addition to his numerous contributions within the company, Wegner has helped advance the industry's technical acumen via articles and seminars. In his spare time Wegner has created dozens of “bug clocks” featuring mounted insect specimens that he has donated for various fund-raising purposes to Purdue University, Pi Chi Omega, the Ohio Pest Management Association Scholarship Fund, and other worthy organizations.

Jim Vaive, president of Varment Guard, said Wegner’s company contributions were many-fold, but what he came to respect and appreciate the most was Wegner’s humbleness and compassion for others. “It was asked by more than one person, ‘Is he telling the truth, does he really believe that?’ I would answer always with a firm ‘Yes,’” said Vaive, who added, “because of Gerry and his knowledge we — Varment Guard — are where we are.”

Gerry and wife Debbie, who are parents to grown children Beth and David, will be retiring to Florida.