GERLACH, Roger Allen 1931-2017

GERLACH, SCHRIEBER, PARVIN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/4/2017 at 10:52:08

FUNERAL NOTICE--

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA - Roger Allen Gerlach, 85, died on Saturday, April 1, 2017, in Mason City, Iowa.

Memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, at the United Methodist Church, St. Ansgar, with Rev. Dr. Rhoda Preston officiating.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar.

Source: Mason City Globe Gazette, 4 APR 2016
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OBITUARY--

ST. ANSGAR | Roger Allen Gerlach died at the age of 85 at Hospice of North Iowa Muse Norris Inpatient Unit on Saturday, April 1, 2017.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2017, at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, IA.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, 2017, at the United Methodist Church in St. Ansgar, Iowa.

Roger was born Sept. 18, 1931, in Carpenter, Iowa, to Earl and Leda (Schrieber) Gerlach. Roger married Florence Roseanna Parvin on March 5, 1960, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Roger has spent a lifetime in dairy leadership, in service to the dairy industry, and developing and managing a superior herd of dairy cattle.

Roger has served as a director of the Iowa Holstein Association for over 20 years, served on all of the committees and was chairman of three. He has been President of the Iowa Dairy Industry Commission, President of the Iowa Dairy Expo Coordinating Boards, President of the North Iowa Milk Co-op and President of the Iowa Purebred Dairy Cattle Council. He has received the Iowa Distinguished Dairyman Award, Iowa Holstein Auxiliary Hall of Fame Award and was honored with his wife, Florence, as an Iowa State University Dairy Science Club Honorary Member.

On the national level Roger was a Holstein Convention delegate for 13 years, and at the 100th Anniversary of the Holstein Association in Hartford, CT, he was elected to the National Holstein Board of Directors. Roger was elected to the Genetic Advancement Committee (his first choice), and later was elected chairman of the committee. Roger was the first chairman of the Ad Hoc Technical Review Committee, and served on the Executive Committee for four years, the Holstein–Friesian Services Board for four years, and the International Board for four years.

Roger has been a Holstein breeder (GGG Holsteins) and State and National member all of his life. He has shown numerous All-Iowa and Reserve All-Iowa winners as well as breeding and owning the All-American Junior Yearling in 1958. Roger has won the Hawkeye Holstein Futurity five times. He also won the Moo-La Sweepstakes and had a reserve winner.

He has sold dairy animals to Japan, Holland, Canada, Mexico, South America, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, 11 different states, and five bulls to AI studs.

Roger’s community activities include being a lifetime member to the St. Ansgar United Methodist Church where he has served on the Board, American Legion member, Acorn Park and Golf Course Board, and 4-H leader for many years, the St. Ansgar Economic and Development Committee, and volunteer at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center. The GGG Holstein herd was used for numerous college, FFA and 4-H judging team workouts.

Roger and his wife Florence enjoyed golfing, having golfed in seventeen states, Scotland and England. Roger and Florence traveled to 48 states and 8 different countries.

Roger was a Sergeant at Fort Riley, Kansas, who trained new recruits on the artillery range for 18 months during the Korean War.

The Holstein Board of Directors has said: “As proud as Roger is of his dairy herd, he is even prouder of his family.”

Roger was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Leda, his wife Florence, and brother Dale.

Roger is survived by his four daughters, Randi (Gary) Bockman and son, Nick Bockman; Kathy (Chuck) Buchda and daughters, Carrie (Alex) Lau, Kristy True and Casey (Mike) Purcell; Patty (Tom) Oudekerk and children Zoe Gerlach and Troy (Tammy) Oudekerk; Jacki (Greg) Hoffman and sons Thomas (Bailey) Hoffman and Anthony Hoffman; 14 great-grandchildren, one sister; Helen (Don) Bortz; Sisters-in-law Arlene (Dale) Gerlach and Polly (Mick) Fortune; and numerous other loving family members.

Roger’s family would also like to recognize the Jim Kline family for their close friendship through the years.

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

Source: Mason City Globe Gazette, 5 APR 2017