Elmer Gerlach

Elmer Gerlach was a caring husband, father and teacher. He believed and taught that you should always be responsible for yourself. Elmer died at his home, surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, December 2, 2014. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 6, 2014 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll. Cremation Rites will be accorded following the funeral service. A visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, December 6, 2014 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials by be given to Heartland Pet Welfare in Elmer’s memory.
Elmer was born on July 4, 1931, the son of Ernst and Meta (Ehlers) Gerlach in Campbell Hill, Illinois. He graduated from Sparta Township High School with the Class of 1949. Elmer graduated with a degree in Agriculture from the University of Illinois, earning his Bachelor's in 1953 and later his Master's Degree in 1961. While attending college, Elmer was in the R.O.T.C. Program. After graduation, Elmer enlisted in the the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant and six months later, he was promoted to First Lieutenant. Elmer married Jewel Hadley on November 6, 1954 in Percy, Illinois. Elmer later married Suzanne Toillion on April 20, 1985 at the First Baptist Church in Mt. Carroll.
After he was discharged, Elmer came to Mt. Carroll in search of a teaching position. Elmer was hired as the AG Teacher and became the F.F.A Advisor for the Mt. Carroll High School, until retiring 1988. He was one of the distinguished few that have the privilege of being an F.F.A American Farmer. He was voted the Illinois Conservation Teacher of the Year in 1984. Elmer loved teaching AG classes, especially the Veteran Young Farmers Class. He also enjoyed coaching baseball and announcing Mt. Carroll High School football games. Elmer was a longtime member of the Mt. Carroll First Baptist Church, the Mt. Carroll American Legion and the Mt. Carroll Lions Club. He also served as a Trustee for the Caroline Mark Home and on the Board of Directors for Heartland Pet Welfare. Elmer operated Mt. Carroll Tree Service and loved the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing and gardening. Most of all, Elmer cherished spending time with his family and friends.
Elmer will be dearly missed by his wife, Suzanne of Mt. Carroll; two daughters, Cindy Hartman of Mt. Carroll and Janice (Lee) Rockafellow of Savanna; seven grandchildren, Jon (Sarah) Hartman of Savanna, Christa (Brett) Nee of Metamora, Illinois, Brook (Rachel) Hartman of Mt. Carroll, Drew (Mollie) Rockafellow of Joliet, Illinois, Katy Rockafellow of Denver, Colorado, Tara Hartman of Wytheville, Virginia and Cody Rockafellow of Savanna; nine great grandchildren and one on the way; one brother, Delbert Gerlach of Sparta, Illinois; two sisters, Delores Kasson of Chestertown, New York and Dorothy Rott of Columbus, Ohio; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Elmer was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Raymond, Arthur, Ernest and Oscar Gerlach; and three sisters, Elda Rickenburg, Edna Fisher and LaVerne Robbins.