GERLACH, Wilmer G. 1912-2011

GERLACH, PRIEM

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/4/2011 at 18:59:30

Wilmer G. "Bill" Gerlach

#1:

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA - Wilmer G. Gerlach, 98, of St. Ansgar died on Thursday, February 3, 2011, at Good Samaritan Society Center, St. Ansgar.

Funeral arrangements are pending with Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, 641-713-4920.

[ Globe Gazette online, February 4, 2011 ]

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#2:

Wilmer G. "Bill" Gerlach

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA - Wilmer G. (Bill) Gerlach, 98, of St. Ansgar, died Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011 at Good Samaritan Society Center, St. Ansgar.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, at United Methodist Church, St. Ansgar, with the Rev. Peter Chang officiating. Burial will be in Priem Cemetery, rural St. Ansgar.

Visitation will be held Friday evening from 5 until 7 p.m. at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, 207 S. School St., St. Ansgar.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, 641-713-4920.

[ Globe Gazette online, February 6, 2011 ]

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#3:

Wilmer G. (Bill) Gerlach

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA - Wilmer G. (Bill) Gerlach, 98, of St. Ansgar, died Thursday, February 3, 2011, at Good Samaritan Society Center, St. Ansgar.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 12, at United Methodist Church, St. Ansgar with the Rev. Peter Chang officiating. Burial will be in Priem Cemetery, Rural St. Ansgar. Visitation will be held Friday evening from 5 until 7 p.m. at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, 207 S. School St., St. Ansgar.

Bill was born on December 24, 1912, in rural Newburg Township in Mitchell County, to Frank and Emma (Priem) Gerlach. Bill was one of nine children, and he attended public schools in Carpenter and St. Ansgar. Bill graduated from St. Ansgar Community High School in 1932. He entered the U.S. Army in June 1942. Bill served in the European Theater Operations of World War II from October 1944 to July 1945. He was honorably discharged in July 1945.

Upon return from the military, Bill farmed with his mother Emma and his brother Arthur on the Newburg Township farm until Art's retirement in 1978. The Gerlach family farm was recognized as a Century Farm in 1997, having been first settled by Bill's pioneer grandparents from Germany, Frederick and Christina Gerlach.

Bill was a member of the St. Ansgar United Methodist Church, where he served on the board of trustees and various church committees. He was also active in community affairs, a township trustee, and on the board of directors for the fire departments of St. Ansgar and Carpenter. He was a board member for the Maple Manor Apartments and the North Iowa Regional Housing Authority. He was also a committee member for the ASCS, served as a member of the St. Ansgar Lions Club for 32 years, was a Farmers Union member, and active member and a state delegate of the Democratic Party, and for 63 years a member of the American Legion.

Bill and his brother Gene were inducted into the St. Ansgar Booster Club Hall of Fame in 2000. The brothers were also honored as grand marshal of several St. Ansgar Community parades. Bill enjoyed life, especially his hobbies, church work, local sports (including baseball and the Minnesota Twins), fishing, golf, and travel.

Bill was a long-time resident of the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center, from November 13, 2003, to February 3, 2011. Bill celebrated his 98th birthday on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2010.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Emma; his brothers Roy, Earl, Arthur and Gene; sisters Irma (John) Ball, Lucille (Irling) Groth, Rose (Harold) Nickerson and infant sister Rose Ruth; nephew Dale (Arlene) Gerlach; and nieces Dorothy (Harold) Johnson and LuAnn Gerlach.

Bill is survived by Verle (Evelyn) Nickerson, St. Ansgar; Roger (Florence) Gerlach, St. Ansgar; Helen (Don) Bortz, Rudd; Virginia (Leo) Wilkens, Waterloo; Joan (George) Borchardt, Holland; Gene (Nedra) Nickerson, Paradise Valley, Ariz.; James (Gretta) Nickerson, Marshfield, Wis.; Mary (Nickerson) Loomer, St. Paul, Minn.; Phil (Ellie) Groth, Pella; David (Beverly) Groth, Centennial, Colo.; and Gary G. (Karen) Gerlach, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar is in charge of arrangements, 641-713-4920.

[ Globe Gazette online, February 9, 2011 ]

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NOTE: His brother, Arthur, was born on 31 Oct 1901 and died in March 1985. (SSDI)

Photo of Wilmer and Art (See link below) is from MITCHELL COUNTY PICTORIAL ATLAS, 1977.

The black and white photo below is from his senior class photo at St. Ansgar High School, 1932. The color photo of Wilmer (below)is from the Globe Gazette, 2/9/11.

Photo of Art and Wilmer Gerlach
 

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