Peacefully on December 3rd in 2020, at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital in Goderich, Gerhart Gerdes passed away in his 89th year.
Gerhard (Gerry) will be incredibly missed by his long loved and cherished wife Maria (Sulh) Gerdes. They married in Germany in 1958, giving them a wonderful 62 years of marriage. Together they raised their 4 children, Marianne McIsaac, Bernie (Louise) Gerdes, Fred
(Annette) Gerdes, and Joe (Heather) Gerdes. Loving opa to grandchildren Christina (Jared) Machan, Kyle Gerdes, Branden Morden, Samantha Maxwell, Heather (Chris) Martin, Brittany (Mike) Morden, Dan
(Melissa) McIsaac, Jason (Kimberly) McIsaac, Shawna (Brad) VanOsch, Kendra Horton, and Michael Gerdes. As well as a loved Opa to
13 beautiful great grandchildren. Gerhard was also very cherished by his siblings, the late Elizabeth, Henry, Annie, the late Hermann, Gretta, and Maria Bernie, the late Joe, and the late Angie.
Gerry was born to Herman and Angela Gerdes in the small, rural, german town of Lorup. Gerry in his earlier years, was known as the town Shephard, watching over the sheep. After first immigrating to Canada in 1955, Gerry returned home to marry his beloved Maria, and together they came back around 1958. From one small town to the next, Maria and Gerry made the leap across the pond to work with farmers in the Elmira area, then farmed in Princeton, and once their family was complete later on moving to purchase their first home together in Goderich ontario. Fulfilling a dream of having a farm of his very own, Gerry had a pig farm and worked up until he was 72. Gerry was a very colourful man possessing many hidden talents. You would often find him playing the accordion, the organ, was a singer, and very musically inclined. In his last years, Mary and Gerry resided at Goderich Place Retirement Resident and had a restful 3 years together. Gerry lived a long and full life of 89 years on this earth, but even so, he will still be greatly missed.
Thank you for taking the time to read Gerry’s story. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you kindly make donations to either the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or the Canadian Cancer Society.
We are always willing to go where called upon but this image shows a visual of the communities that our included in our initial transportation fee. We offer a 40km radius from any of our 5 locations (Arva (London), Exeter, Lucan, Seaforth, and Zurich). Any mileage beyond the included 40km will be charged a rate of $2.50/km (one way travel only).
Bill and Ann Phelan
So sorry for your loss Fred ! Bill .
Peter & Lisa Van Dyke
Sorry for your loss. Peter & Lisa
Phyllis Scott
Sincere condolences to all on Gerry’s passing . Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Sincerely Phyllis and family.
Heidi Elliott
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time .
My deepest sympathy’s
Heidi
Samantha Maxwell
To the Opa I know,
Your gift to me has been nothing short of amazing, for you showed me the most precious gift of all, the gift of time.
When I was young, teaching me your passion of farming, to showing me where the bacon came from, from you sitting in your lounge chair in your rec room with Oma beside you, watching all us grandkids open presents on Christmas Day, from showing me the patience you had for making your own brew, to sitting with me and translating my Rammstein CD, Du Hast… Du Hast Mich.. it still translates bad in English. Lol
To the love and compassion you showed an abused stray pup, that showed up on your property, (Dodger). To persevering and fighting for the farm you loved so dearly, which we all grew to love. To holding Omas hand in the hospital when she was sick, not wanting to let it go…
She completed you, (you can rest easy, we will take excellent care of her, for you) ♥️
In your journey, you and Oma raised some amazing children, that became amazing adults.
One of which I get to call, dad.
Your story may not’ve been perfect, but it sure was rewarding.
Rest Easy, Dearest Opa. ♥️
Alfons, Manuela mit Andre Pleiter
In lovely memories, Uncle Gerd.
R.I.P🙏😢
Jennifer and Scott Jones/Vanstone
Our sympathies and love to the Gerdes family.
Xoxo
Al n Deanna Betterley
Our condolences to Bernie,Fred Joe , Marianne , and Gerdes families , cherish your memories, met Gerry at Bernie and Louise legendary pig roasts! very nice man RIP Gerry
Michael Gerdes
Goodbye Opa. The amount of love and respect I have for you is limitless. Whether it was growing up in wartime Germany, or immigrating to Canada with next to nothing and starting a family, it takes an incredible amount of bravery. It’s bravery that doesn’t go unnoticed, even generations down the line. I will miss the stories you used to tell of your time in Germany, they fascinated me. You genuinely had enough of them to write a book, and a good one at that! You were a loving grandpa and I’m going to miss you a lot, so many people will.
Joan Hartwick
Our deepest sympathy on the passing of your beloved father, grandparents and siblings.
Treasure the many happy memories you have shared through the years.
Sincerely,
Wayne and Joan Hartwick
Cecelia Denomme
Dear Maria – With special memories of you – and Gerry – from your weekly shopping at A&P –
With sadness and sympathy to you and your family. Sincerely Cecelia Denomme
Connie Tasker
To all of Gerry’s family I would like to offer my sincere condolences. I just loved my interactions with Gerry when I came in to volunteer at Goderich Place. He so loved the entertainment and he smiled the biggest smile when I would dance with him in his wheelchair. What a lovely gracious man he was and he had wonderful hugs to give to say thank you for caring. God bless you Gerry you will make a wonderful angel for Gods garden!
Barbara Kimberley
Rest in Paradise Uncle Gerry. I have so many wonderful memories of visiting the farms while growing up. Will cherish them in my heart. My condolences to Aunt Mary and the family. Hugs to all.
Stewart and Kathy Curran
Joe and Heather We are very sorry to hear of your Dads passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
May you give each other strength at this time.
Our deepest sympathy is extend to you and your family .
Stewart and Kathy Curran
Maria and Family . Our deepest sympathy go out to you and your family at this time. May peace and comfort find you at this trying time.
Diane Cormier
My sincere condolences to the family. I remember meeting Gerry at Marianne’s wedding. He was a very gracious humble gentleman and a wonderful host; making one feel part of the family even though just meeting. Hugs to Dan, Jason and Marianne. You and your families are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Kendra Horton
Dearest Opa, I will always remeber you for your spunk, and vibrancy. Even if in your later years you felt like you lost that, I will always see you as my opa who loved naming all of his kittens crazy german names, the only man I have ever met who knows how to play the accordian, as well as the organ, and a man who stood up for what he believed and didn’t keep quite under any circumstances. We love and will miss you Opa.
Bill Clifford
Maria and family. So sorry to hear of Gerry’s passing. I remember going to your farm in Princeton to get Gerry’s signature on his offer to purchase the Dennis Connelly farm. I remember your families warm hospitality on that visit.
I especially remember Marianne, then a shy little girl. Little did I know then, that a few years later Marianne would come to work for me for several years.