At a Glance
When Wisconsin native Jerry Wunsch was heading to St Pete Beach his rookie season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he was hoping to find some rest and relaxation. Little did he know that he would find his wife. He and Melissa made eye contact and after Jerry got up the courage to introduce himself, he could tell right away there was something special about her. As they began dating, they realized they had a lot of common beliefs and life goals. One year later, at the exact spot on the beach where they met, Jerry proposed to Melissa. The first thing she said was “Are you kidding me?” But after the initial shock, she quickly said “yes”.Jerry had been working on a program to take 20 kids who were battling cancer to see snow for the first time in his native Wisconsin. After talking with Melissa, they decided to spend their honeymoon escorting the kids on the trip. After an incredible experience with the kids on that first trip, he and Melissa have taken the group, now called the Wunsch Family Foundation Circle of Friends, up North every winter. Not only are Jerry and Melissa making an impact on the kids in their program, they have also been blessed with three children of their own – Collin, Cade and Caylee. Seeing his children born was “the most amazing thing I have ever seen. It reaffirmed my belief in God.” While every birth was special, the day Cade was born was the day Coach Tony Dungy, who Jerry admires deeply, was released by the Buccaneers. “I cried twice in one day – first at Cade’s birth and again saying good bye to Tony.”When it comes to parenting, Jerry has always been focused on being a good dad. His father Jerry Sr., spent a lot of time teaching him life lessons while fishing, especially about respecting others and finishing what you start. Jerry shares that he was so excited about becoming a father, that at the Rookie Combines, when asked what he wanted to accomplish in life, he answered, “I want to be a good father.” He and Melissa are raising their kids in a Godly home, and make sure they have family night on a consistent basis - complete with an air mattress, popcorn, pizza and a movie.What began on the sandy beaches of St Petersburg has grown and flourished into a Godly family making a difference in their community.
