Paul D. Gerlach

Paul Donald Gerlach, 92, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri passed away on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at Lutheran Home. Paul was the son of Paul Samuel Gottlieb and Hattie Ida Maevers Gerlach and was born at home near Hobbs Chapel looking over the Mississippi River. He was the loving husband of Mary J. Engram Gerlach. They met in high school and were married for 72 years. Paul served in the United States Air Force for four years and loved his country. He was also a member of the American Legion in Cape Girardeau. Paul was a graduate of Trinity Lutheran, College High and University of Missouri Rolla with an electrical engineering degree. He spent his career mostly with Emerson Electric in military avionics on the B52-H Bomber Tail Defense and F-5E fighter aircraft as an Engineer and Program Manager. His first assignment was the B-58 bomber Tail Defense System. During this time, he and the family lived in Saint Louis, Fort Worth, Wichita, Munich, Germany and California, with Paul also traveling to Egypt. He also served as Program Manager on the T-37 Program for Sabreliner and traveled to Pakistan and Thailand. Paul was a private pilot and loved flying and fishing. Paul loved his family and family activities. Reading was on his high list of pleasures, as were the three card club groups he and Mary belonged to. Everywhere they lived they were active in the Lutheran Church in the area and after moving back to Cape Girardeau in 1987, Paul held various offices in all the churches he attended and he was also a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He also volunteered at Southeast Health for many years. Paul and Mary had three children, Sid (Pam) Gerlach , David (Lisa) Gerlach both of Cape Girardeau and a daughter, Julie (Mark) Martin of Fenton, Missouri. Paul is also survived by eight grandchildren, Seth , Emily, Merritt, Erin, Sam Gerlach and Shane, Jessie and Mike Martin; and nine great-grandchildren, Lucy, Palmer and Mary Caroline Holzum, Stella Proffer, Reid, Vida and Miller Keys, Gus Gerlach and Rose Jercinovic. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Bobby Gene of Jackson, Missouri and Harold Lee of Cape Girardeau.. Visitation will be 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Friday, July 14, 2023 at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau. Funeral service will follow at 12:00 pm Friday at the funeral home with the Revs. Paul Short and Douglas Breite officiating. Entombment will be at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau. Memorial contributions may be given to Saxony Lutheran High School, 2004 Saxony Drive, Jackson, MO 63755 or Trinity Lutheran Church, 100 N. Frederick, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701. Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com. Ford & Sons Funeral Home - Mt. Auburn is in charge of arrangements.

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Paul D. Gerlach

November 16, 1930 - July 11, 2023