GERLACH, Arthur E. 1901-1985

GERLACH, PRIEM, BALL, NICKERSON, GROTH

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/14/2011 at 21:47:49

Arthur E. Gerlach 1901-1985

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, March 7, 1985, for Arthur E. Gerlach, a prominent Mitchell County dairyman, at the United Methodist Church of St. Ansgar. Mr. Gerlach died on March 3 at a Rochester, Minnesota, hospital. The Rev. Loyd Johnson will officiate with burial in the Priem Cemetery, rural St. Ansgar.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. at Schroeder and Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar.

Arthur Gerlach was born on October 31, 1901, to Frank and Emma (Priem) Gerlach in Newburg Township, Mitchell County, Iowa. He attended rural schools and graduated from Carpenter High School, also attending Iowa State University.

His long association with the dairy industry began in 1928 when he purchased his first registered Holstein. Since then he had held many offices in connection with the Holstein business. He was president of the Iowa Holstein Association from 1955 to 1958, and was on the board of directors for many years. He was also chairman of the state sale committee for several years.

Mr. Gerlach was elected delegate to the National Holstein Convention 16 different years, and received the Progressive Breeder Registry Award 16 years. He has been honored as Iowa Distinguished Dairyman in 1965, Iowa Holstein Distinguished Service Award in 1966, Iowa State University Dairy Science Club honor member in 1969 and Holstein Hall of Fame honoree in 1974. He served as secretary-treasurer of the Mitchell County Dairy Herd Improvement Association for many years.

He was a pioneer in rural electrification, serving as a director in the rural electric cooperative, forerunner to Cedar Valley Electric Coop, St. Ansgar. He was a lifelong member of the New Frontier Club of the Iowa Democratic Party and was county chairman of the Agricultural Adjustment Act during the war years and a fieldman serving 10 northeast Iowa counties. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in St. Ansgar.

Surviving are three sisters, Irma Ball, Waterloo; Rose Nickerson, Osage; Lucille Groth, Des Moines; three brothers: Earl, Wilmer and Gene Gerlach, all of St. Ansgar.

[ MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS, March 6, 1985 ]