8-25-2024 10:14pm

Search continues for missing Roscoe man

Michael McGinnis Editor

A search party met at Roscoe Middle School on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 25, 2024.

More than 40 people met at Roscoe Middle School to search for Gil Wierschke on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 24, 2024, though without success.

Gilbert E. Wierschke wandered from his home in the 10000 block of Marblewing Ln. around 7:45 p.m. on Monday, August 12, 2024. Gilbert is a 76-year-old white male who was last seen wearing a blue Chicago Cubs t-shirt, blue jeans, black baseball cap, black tennis shoes, and glasses. Gilbert suffers from Alzheimer’s and may appear confused or disoriented. His home is south of Roscoe Road, south of Chicory Ridge. He lives between Pine White Road and Morning Cloak Street.

According to WIFR, the family hopes that home security cameras near Marblewing Road recorded Gil walking on Monday, August 12, 2024 between 6:30 and 8 p.m.

His daughter posted this update on Facebook on Sunday evening after the first public search party:

"Thank you to everyone who came out and searched today! We are so grateful for any and all help! That being said, here's what was said and done:

"Someone searched the fields and marshes around the Stone Bridge Trails area with drones early this morning.

"We had maybe about 40 people? come out and walk in areas (trails, creek, etc.).

"There were theories and suggestions for where to search next (Hononegah Forest Preserve, Belvidere...).

"The reason that the scent dogs lost his scent at the railroad tracks may be because of the oils on the metal tracks - the oils overpower/ neutralize any other scent. My father is still missing, but we are determined to move forward and do our best to bring him back home.

Some questions-

Did he have a favorite spot to walk to?

- Not as far as I know. When I was a child, he mostly walked to or from work in Belvidere (due to car trouble) or would take a walk to cool off after an argument with my mom

Was he coherent?

- Unlike what Alzheimers is portrayed as, he was coherent. He knew who he was, who his family was, where they lived, etc. He did NOT know things like what day it was or how to get somewhere. He struggled with dressing himself, and he could not prep food or do household tasks. He could get angry if provoked but didn't get mad/angry if he was confused.

Have people who live in the neighborhood been asked to check their video doorbell footage?

-As far as I know, police looked for those devices in the neighborhood and asked the people who they could to review any footage they may have when he disappeared.

"I have received messages from people who think they may have seen him in Belvidere or near my neighborhood in Rockton by the high school. I want to repeat what has been theorized: He may have received help with a change of clothes or food/water, he may not have the same shoes or hat or even his glasses anymore. There are people in this world who would not mind helping with something like that but would not want to call the police. If you think you see him, of course, call the police but maybe also try and take a picture or stop and offer assistance.

"Whatever happened to him, we just want answers. It's now been almost two weeks since he went missing."

Hailey Thompson, one of the organizers, posted this update:

“First of all I want to say thank you so so so much to each and every single person who made it out today to help with the search for Gil. Unfortunately we still have not found him but we will not give up! I’m sorry that things got kind of chaotic as far as who was searching where! We were all just doing the best we can but I think we all did a great job staying in communication with each other considering we were all just a bunch of strangers coming together! If you participated in todays search please send me a message of the area you covered so we can try to make a plan for the next time!! THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME!!! WE WILL NOT GIVE UP ON YOU GIL!

Before Sunday's search, Hailey provided instructions:

"Please find the canopy where we will have a notebook for EVERYONE to sign in with their name and phone number! PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SIGN IN WHEN YOU ARRIVE AND SIGN OUT WHENEVER YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE!!!!

YOUR SAFETY NEEDS TO BE YOUR #1 PRIORITY DURING THIS SEARCH!

Make sure you bring water! We will supply some but there can never be too much! It’s going to be hot!

Make sure you are with at least one other person at all times! No one is to be searching alone for any reason! We want to bring Gil home not end up searching for anyone else!

Charge your phones! Wear bright colors! Bring your ATV if you have one! Just please be smart and don’t push yourself if you are not physically able! Once again thank you all for the continued support and we will see everyone tomorrow! Let’s bring Gil HOME!!!!"

The Roscoe Police Department is requesting assistance from the public in locating him.

We ask that anyone with information related to this incident contact the Roscoe Police Department at 815-623-7338.

In partnership with the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office, Boone County Sheriff's Office and the Illinois Search and Rescue Council (ISARC), additional ground searches were conducted in the area. The ISARC team consists of trained searchers.

No one has reported seeing Gil since his disappearance. His wife Cindy Kjenner-Wierschke and daughter April Wierschke have been posting updates on Facebook and have alerted police to the locations where he may have wanted to go to. The family lived at Hononegah Road and Blue Spruce for a long time. He doesn't carry a wallet or phone - he can no longer use a phone. He was born in Rochelle and lived in Rockford, IL when younger. He used to bowl at Viking Lanes. His daughter says, "He is used to walking long distances. He used to boast about walking home to Roscoe (due to car trouble) from his job at the Chrysler plant in Belvidere." He worked 2nd shift: 3:30 to midnight.

One woman saw him get into a white van, but later clarified that it was several days before he disappeared and was driven by his wife.

His daughter said on Aug. 19, "Police have searched in the area he went missing but did not find him. He was known to walk long distances and may have just wanted to take a walk... His scent was tracked to railroad tracks in the Gleasman Road area near his home but disappeared from there. His family is asking for help! If someone picked him up and drove him out of the area, please call police or contact family through Facebook! If you think you see him walking alongside the road, try to stop and verify before calling police! We just want him back! Flyers have been put out in the area and more will be passed out. We may look into organizing our own search parties, but we need help in any way you can offer! Help us bring him home!"

His wife told us on Aug. 20, "The problem is no one knows which direction he went, and the fact that it was close to dark when he went missing. The police have done drones, search lights from a plane the first night, divers checking ponds, a boat with sonar checking the river through Ventura Blvd in Machesney Park, car patrol searches, empty buildings and barns, and on Wednesday late afternoon they had a professional search and rescue team out looking for him where the bloodhound picked up and lost his scent. We have made fliers to put up in not only this area but in other areas like Machesney Park. There have been many many friends, family or people we don't know out looking for him too."

She added, "He relied on me to help him throughout the day. I unfortunately got distracted that day and knew he had been in the garage with my brother helping pick up boxes to try to organize it better, but then he tried to step over some boxes in his path and my brother said not to do that as he might trip. He said to my brother, "watch me," and hopped over the boxes and walked out into the driveway. My brother thought he was just going to hang out in the driveway and didn't think anything of it at the time. I think he wanted to go for a walk and got lost. It was close to dark then."

His daughter posted on Aug. 23: "We know the police did search with drones and dogs the cornfields near his home, and possibly searched some or all of the Hononegah Forest Preserve, near his old home. He used to live at the house on the corner of Blue Spruce Dr and Hononegah Rd. It has been suggested that he may have been seen in the area of my home in Rockton near the high school or walking alongside Rt. 2. The area of Stone Bridge trails has also been suggested for searches because of its steep drop offs."

Tap, click or swipe on the poster below to view more pictures of Gil.