Eugene F. Gerlach

Eugene F. Gerlach, age 86, of Preston, Iowa, died April 18, 2010 at the Mill Valley Care Center, in Bellevue, Iowa. A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Preston with Father Paul Lippstock as Celebrant. Burial will take place in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Preston. Visitation will be held from 3 – 8:00 p.m., Friday, April 23, 2010 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Preston, with a rosary service held at 8:00 p.m.

Gene was born July 14, 1923, the son of Joseph and Mary (Wagner) Gerlach in Charlotte, Iowa. Eugene served in the United States Navy during World War II on board the USS Revenge, a minesweeper that lead the invasion of Okinawa. On August 22, 1953, Gene married Eleanor Wagemester at St. Mary’s Church in Bryant, Iowa.

Gene owned and operated Gerlach’s Inc. LP Gas and Appliance in Preston for thirty - seven years until his retirement in 1990. He was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Preston, and the American Legion. Gene had a great love of fishing, enjoying it during each summer family vacation. He and Eleanor also loved warm weather and traveling. They traveled south to Texas every winter for almost twenty years. They also traveled to Florida, California, and the Baja area and a couple summers in Alaska for salmon fishing. Gene was a licensed Hamm Radio Operator and a Volunteer Fireman in Preston.

Gene is survived by his loving wife, Eleanor; two sons, Michael (Suzanne) Gerlach of Tampa Bay, Florida, Daniel (Marie) Gerlach of Melbourne, Florida; two daughters, Monica (Paul) Sawyer of Dallas, Texas, Susan (Timothy) Zeimet of Spragueville, Iowa; ten grandchildren; and a sister, Elizabeth Bondy of Savanna, Illinois.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Diane Gerlach; two brothers, Wildfred Gerlach and Joseph Gerlach; and two sisters, Helen Gerlach and Margaret Black.