May 4, 1928 – Dec. 14, 2013
Avid sports fan and exercise enthusiast Richard (Dick) Gerlach passed away peacefully at home, with his stepson Ty by his side. He was born in Waterloo, the only child of Fred and Madrith Gerlach.
He graduated from Waterloo Central High School in 1945. Gerlach was an organizer and player for the Waterloo Monarchs basketball team. He was also a horse owner, sulky driver and trainer. When he moved to Oregon, he met May Bartolon, whom he married in 1974. She died in 1998.
Gerlach lived in Milwaukie, Oregon, for the past 30 years. Gerlach was the head gardener of Portland Memorial Funeral Home and a custodian at PCC until he retired in 1994. He remained very active, doing aerobics three times a week and walking daily until the week before he died.
Gerlach’s relatives include cousins Tom Coughlin of Park Ridge, NJ, Carol Kingston of Canandaigua, Kathleen Troutman, Patty Reed and Luann Coughlin all of Waterloo, and Kaaren Gerlach of Waterloo. Contributions may be sent to the Jay Fund, established by Coach Tom Coughlin, PO Box 50798, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32240.
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