Earl Gerlach

Earl W. Gerlach, 97, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2017 at Good Samaritan Luther Manor in Sioux Falls, SD. Earl was born June 24, 1919 to William and Rosey Gerlach in Guide Rock, NE.  He attended public school in Guide Rock and graduated from the Nebraska College of Commerce in Hasting, NE.  Earl was drafted into the US Army Air Force where he served in Europe during World War II.  Following the end of the war he returned to Nebraska and began his sales career.  During this time, he met and married Bonnie L. Farnam on June 13, 1947 in Valley, NE.

Bonnie and Earl moved to Sioux Falls, SD where Earl continued his sales career as a business partner in Siouxland Furniture Store. In the 1960’s Earl began selling real estate, a career which spanned 40 years.  He was recognized for his contributions in 1990 by the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Sales and Marketing Executive.  Following his retirement from GKR & Associates, Earl served as a Sales Consultant for Trail Ridge Retirement Community.  As a great ambassador for the community of Sioux Falls, he was one of the longest living members of the Downtown Kiwanis Club and was named 2011 Kiwanian of the Year.

Earl valued his Christian faith and life-long membership at First Baptist Church, where he served as an usher for many years. He also greatly valued his more than 40 years of sobriety, and the people in his life that sponsored him, as well as those that he sponsored.  As a Veteran and proud American he was privileged to have been a member of the 2010 SD Honor Flight.

Cherishing his memory are his wife of 70 years, Bonnie Gerlach, Sioux Falls; daughter, Stephanie (Tony) Judenis, Hebron, CT, and their children, Michael (Jessica) Judenis, Bristol, CT, Katy (Josh) Wantek, Berlin, CT; son Stephen (Jean) Gerlach, and their children, Nichole Gerlach (Lance Beier), Kali Gerlach and Corey Gerlach (Mary Campbell) all of Sioux Falls, and 4 great-grandchildren.  Earl was preceded in death by his parents, sister and his son Gregory Gerlach.

The family would like to recognize that staff of Luther Manor for the exceptional care and companionship they have provided over the past 3 ½ years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First Baptist Church in Sioux Falls or Trail Ridge Retirement Community in Earl’s name.

A memorial service will be held at Heritage Funeral Home at 1:00 pm Monday, June 12, 2017 with a visitation one hour prior to the service to greet friends.