Joseph Henry Gerschick

Joseph Henry "Joe" Gerschick, age 91, left us to meet his Savior on April 21, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. Up until the moment of his death, he nourished people around him with his ubiquitous energy, love, generosity, caring nature, and faith.

Joe was born May 29, 1930 to Joseph and Della (Comer) Gerschick in Detroit, Michigan at the beginning of the Great Depression. At the age of 13, he attended Henry Ford Trade School where he learned many skills, including drafting, machining, and the value of hard work -- all of which served him well throughout his life. Upon graduation, he entered the Naval Reserve at Grosse Ile, Michigan which gave him his life-long love of aviation. Introduced by his co-worker and eventual brother-in-law Arlen, Joe married the love of his life, Edna Mary (Stockwell) Meldrum in 1956 and quickly started a family which grew to six children, residing first in Detroit and then in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Joe started his career as a draftsman. In pursuit of a better life for his family, he moved into sales -- initially of restaurant shortening and later industrial filters for the plastics and aeronautical industries. After a massive stroke at age 46 left him a hemiplegic, his resilient spirit became more apparent than ever. Joe and Edna founded Omni Filter & Manufacturing, Inc. from which they retired in 2004. Omni was a family affair; Joe very much enjoyed working with Edna and was deeply appreciative of the contributions of two of his sons, two of his sons-in-law, and two of his daughters, without whom the business would not have been the success it ultimately was. Joe's filter designs earned him multiple patents and were used on the Space Shuttle, in commercial aircraft and automobiles, and in the manufacturing of products such as Teflon, Pampers diapers and Chinet plates. Known for his tenacity and inexhaustible work ethic, Joe grew from his hardscrabble roots and became the epitome of a self-made man. In doing so, he provided his family with not only the same work ethic but also the opportunity to pursue college degrees and secure for themselves a measure of financial security that Joe and Edna did not know until later in life.

True to his vows, he cared for Edna Mary until her death in December 2017. He was a dear friend to many and an avid tennis and card player, craftsman, and very quick wit. But it was Joe's Roman Catholic faith that best defined him -- a faith that provided him great succor as he dealt with his stroke, the loss of his beloved mother, father, brothers, and dearest Edna Mary.

He was preceded in death by both sets of parents, his beloved Edna Mary, his three brothers and sisters-in-law, Edna Mary's six siblings, and two grandchildren, Daniel and Andrew. Left to honor Joe and Edna Mary's legacy are their six children and their respective partners, Julie (Robert Papez) Gerschick, Mary Barker, Thomas (Heather Dalmage) Gerschick, Joseph (Elizabeth) Gerschick, Patricia (David Shea) Gierschick, David (Mary Katherine) Gerschick; thirteen grandchildren and their respective spouses and partners including Catherine, Justin, Lindsay, Kimberly, James, Matthew, Sarah, Brandon, Maddison, Dillon, Riley, Delaney, and Wesley; and nine great-grandchildren. In his generosity of spirit, Joe never defined family simply by blood or marriage. To that end, he also leaves behind family members including Lynda Duke, Robert Gierschick, Carrie Nixon, Timothy Barker, Kimberley Treinen and family, many beloved nieces and nephews and their spouses, and dear friends whose constancy has been a source of enormous comfort to Joe and his children in his final months.

Joe's physical presence will be deeply missed but he lives on in the hearts of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all whom he touched by his faith, his care, his indomitable spirit, and his gifts of food and candy. Cremation rites have been accorded. A private mass will be celebrated for Joe on April 30, 2022, with a memorial service and burial celebrated in Detroit at Mt. Olivet Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2022.

The Gerschick Family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who supported us in Joe's care over the last two years. We also thank the Veterans Association and the large number of medical providers and caretakers for the attentiveness, care and love they bestowed upon Joe in his final years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe's name to the various charities working on behalf of the people of The Ukraine.