Kenneth W. "Ken" Gerber

Kenneth W. Gerber, 93, of Peoria, IL, died on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
Born in Peoria on February 19, 1932, to Lester C. and Viola M. Bohm Gerber, he graduated from Dunlap High School and attended Bradley University. He served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. On July 19, 1952, he married Rosemary J. Adami in Peoria. She died June 2, 2020.
He worked at Caterpillar for 35 years, having developed what was originally called Plant Escort into his vision for a specialized Visitor Service Department, with a trained staff that provided tours of plants for non-industry visitors, dealers, government officials and customers. He knew the company history, its leaders, its products, and its facilities by heart, and never tired of talking about any of them. At the Caterpillar Power Parades, he added showbiz among the machines in his portrayals of "Toby the Cowboy" and later, "Alexander Botts." The Caterpillar centennial has been very close to his heart.
After retirement, he worked at Caterpillar's Visitor Center, where he liked nothing more than chatting about articulated trucks and bulldozers. He especially loved hearing from the current generations now in charge of long-time dealers.
His other post-retirement job as a groundskeeper at Springdale Cemetery allowed him to mow vast swathes of grass, and meticulously trim every annoying blade of grass around each gravestone, using fancier equipment than he had at home.
Ken appeared in musicals, including "The Pajama Game," presented by the Caterpillar Mixed Chorus. At Corn Stock Theater in the 1960s, he played the roles of Harold Hill in "The Music Man," Max Detweiler in "The Sound of Music," and Sammy Fong in "Flower Drum Song."
He also appeared in many local television commercials and print ads. As a young amateur boxer, he loved the ring. Beginning in the 1970s, he relished his 15 years as a freelance ring announcer for what was then Minneapolis Boxing and Wrestling, which held professional wrestling matches in Peoria and elsewhere in Illinois, allowing him to witness up close the athletic feats of Jesse "The Body" Ventura, Nick Bockwinkel, Ray Stevens, "Mad Dog" Vachon, and Andre the Giant, among others.
He was devoted to his alma mater, Dunlap High School. He regularly kept in touch, and visited, fellow members of the Class of 1950. He also organized their participation in alumni events. He was active in the Scottish Rite, and later, with his sons, in the Boy Scouts.
Ken is survived by a son, Christopher W. (Molly) Gerber, of Manatee County, Fla., and a daughter, Jacqueline M. Gerber, of Cleveland, Ohio. He is also survived by a sister, Betty L. (Bill) Robinson of Pekin and two grandchildren, Cassen C. (Hannah) Gerber and Kali R. (Asher) Sosinsky, as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, Alex J. Gerber of Peoria, on May 19, 2024. Ken was also preceded by two brothers, Lester C. Jr., in 2008, and Jerrold A., in 1999 and a sister, Bonnie L. (Randall J.) Schaffer, in 2021.
The family will formally receive visitors Friday, May 16, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at The Wilton Mortuary, 2101 N. Knoxville Ave., in Peoria, followed by a time of sharing at 2:00 p.m. Anyone attending who wishes to speak will be encouraged to share memories of Ken. A private burial at Springdale Cemetery will take place at a later date.