John Steven Gerringer

OLEAN - John Steven Gerringer, 91, of Haskell Parkway, Olean, passed away Friday (Jan. 24, 2025), with his children close by.

Born Dec. 12, 1933, at the West End Hospital, Olean, he was the oldest son of the late Steven and Marie Cavanaugh Gerringer. John married Phyllis Besecker on Sept. 25, 1954, at St Bonaventure Church, Allegany. She predeceased him in 2023.

John's first schooling was at a one-room schoolhouse, the Four Mile Rock View School, with Miss Schnell. John finished the rest of his schooling and graduated from Allegany Central School in 1951. He was in the marching band, the football team and the track team. John was a past member of the Four Mile 4-H Club. He also attended several levels of Whirlpool Business Management School.

After graduation, he went to work at Olean Tile Co. from 1951-1953. He left Allegany for a job at the Chevrolet Plant in Tonawanda from 1953 to 1956. John was asked to return to the area to help his father-in-law, Frances Besecker, with a new business he was starting in Olean. He took ownership of Besecker & Coss after the death of Frances Besecker in 1965. John and his wife, Phyllis owned and expanded Besecker & Coss until they retired in 1998, giving the keys to three of their five children.

For 15 years, John was a member of the Olean National Guard, achieving the rank of master sergeant. He played on the Olean Rockets semi-pro football team for three years, and was a member of the VFW Malta Marchers Drill Team playing the tuba.

He was a Pack Leader for the Westons Mills Cub Scouts. John and Phyllis belonged to the Olean and Portville Jaycees and were members of the Portville Lions Club for years. He was a member of the Amvets Post 1 in Cuba.

John liked to bowl over the Palace Theater, at the bowling alley. His business sponsored a men's and women's league for Olean for many years. John was an Elk and Eagle Club member for many years. He was a past board member of the Olean Chamber of Commerce, a chairman of the Olean Home Show, a charter member and past board member of the AVB buying Group of Western NY.

He was on the Scared Heart Parish Console, and when Scared Heart closed John and Phyllis joined St. Mary's of Angels. John, along with other parish members, started a project to archive all of St. Mary's history, a one-year outline took four years, which led to a historical room for St. Mary's of the Angels.

John and Phyllis volunteered to cook and serve for many years for the annual June festival at the Basilica of St. Mary's of the Angels. He was also part of the St. Vincent DePaul of Portville and was a past commissioner of the Westons Mills Fire Company. He along with Red Grey founded an annual non-profit fund-raiser, "The Pumpkin Shoot," and it ran for 12 years, donating to many local organizations.

John and Phyllis were "Winter Birds" who traveled with their RV, and John was a past president of Holiday Rambler RV Group of Pennsylvania. They enjoyed traveling with the group all around the U.S., and also to many other countries. Both enjoyed square dancing with the Enchanted Mountaineers of Olean. John enjoyed campfires out back of their home. He also enjoyed his neighborhood members and their get-togethers.

John is survived by two daughters, Rosalyn (Mike) Zalepa of Pennsylvania and Charmaine (Tom) Bean of New York; three sons, Matt (Pam) Gerringer of South Carolina, Mike (Sue Howard) Gerringer of New York and John (Michelle) Gerringer of New York; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Susan (Gerringer) Freaney; two brothers-in-law, Raymond (Diane) Besecker and Charles (Dee) Besecker; with several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his loving wife of over 70 years, Phyllis; his parents, Steven and Marie; and three siblings, Richard (Marilu) Gerringer, Nancy Gerringer Koliviski and Mary Celia, who died at birth.

The Legacy of John Gerringer will live on in all five of his kids.

Dad, you may not be here physically with us, but your memories will surround us and will make us grow a better life.

A memorial visitation and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at a date and time to be announced.

Memorials, if desired, may be to Cattaraugus County Meals on Wheels, 1 Leo Moss Drive, Olean, NY 14760; or donor's choice.

Online condolences may be expressed at guentherfh.com.