Lawrence Warren Gerst 1921 - 2001

GERST, KNAPP, SCHNEIDER, COX

Posted By: Debbie (email)
Date: 11/6/2006 at 23:51:04

The Burlington Hawkeye - October 1, 2001

Lawrence Gerst

Lawrence Warren Gerst, 80, 1000 E. Washington St., Mount Pleasant, died unexpectedly at 7:13 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, 2001, at Henry County Health Center in Mount Pleasant.

Born March 2, 1921, in Oakville, he was the son of Eugene Adolph and Rose Marie Knapp Gerst. On Jan. 11, 1942, he married Betty Lea Schneider in Kahoka, Mo. She died June 18, 1993.

Mr. Gerst was a civilian contractor employed by the Army as the director of transportation for the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown for more than 30 years. He also farmed for more than 30 years. After retiring, he served as custodian of First United Methodist in Mount Pleasant from 1976 until 1980. He also worked part-time for Cargill, Mustang Mart, Pizza Hut and Purolator Courier. For the last several years, he maintained several lawns.

He was a 1939 graduate of Wapello High School. He was a World War II Army Air Corps veteran. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Mount Pleasant Senior Citizens Center, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the Rec Center of Mount Pleasant. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge of Danville and for 25 years served as a 4-H leader for the Jackson Juniors 4-H Club.

Survivors include four sons, Larry Gerst of Fayetteville, Tenn., Jimmy Gerst of Burlington, Brian Gerst and Neil Gerst, both of New London; one daughter, Phyllis Cox of New London; 19 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; four brothers, Eugene "Ted" Gerst and Lester Gerst, both of Oakville, Allen Gerst of Burlington and Edward Gerst of Mediapolis; two sisters-in-law; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and his special companion, Carmen Barr of Mount Pleasant.

Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, one son and three brothers.

Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Weir Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant, where the family will receive friends from 3 to 5 and 7:30 to 9 p.m. There will be a Masonic service at 7 p.m. conducted by Mount Pleasant Lodge No. 8 AF & AM.

The funeral for Mr. Gerst will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant, with the Rev. Kiboko I. Kiboko officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in Jaggar Cemetery, west of Danville.

Memorials have been established for First United Methodist Church, Mount Pleasant Senior Center and the Rec Center of Mount Pleasant.