Philip Gerstner

Philip E. Gerstner

Philip E. Gerstner, 79, of Findlay, passed away Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at Bridge Inpatient Hospice Care Center at Blanchard Valley Hospital, surrounded by family and friends. Phil was born March 23, 1946, in Lima, to Clayton and Edith (Line) Gerstner, who proceeded him in death.

Survivors include, his twin sister, Phyllis Roe of Wapakoneta; nieces, Alison (Sean) MacLellan and Lucy and Iona MacLellan of Washington; nephews, Kerry Roe and Cole (Cheryl) Gerstner of Colorad; nieces Hannah (Ryan) Gerstner-Adams and Jenny (Greg, deceased) Sowers of Lima; and niece, Shanda (Dustin) Cox; special friends, Leslie Hunsberger of Findlay, Anne Yost of Carey, Chuck Romer of Ottawa, and Bob Kerr of Frankfort, Michigan.

Phil was proceeded in death by his older brother, John E. (Pat, deceased) Gerstner, nephew, John A. (Elaine) Gerstner; and special friends, Lolita Saunders, Donna Ashcroft, Winnie Ream, and Helen, Izzy and Dolores (Dean, deceased) Hailey.

After joining Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church in 2000, it was Phil's honor to serve as eucharistic minister and be a member of RCIA team and parish financial council.

Phil worked in the floral industry after graduating from Shawnee High School in 1964 and while attending OSU Lima for two years. He felt blessed to begin working at Lewis Clark, Jr. shop in Lima before working in other shops in Findlay and St. Marys. On Memorial Day 1982, Phil opened the doors to Retrospect at Put-In-Bay, which brought him the greatest pleasure for eight years. In 1991, Phil bought The Art Works in Findlay, selling handcrafted items from talented people throughout the United States. Finishing his career, he managed the Shrine Gift Shop in Carey.

Phil was a long-time member of Findlay Art League. As a watercolorist, he received numerous awards and had paintings in various foreign countries. Later, he began making sterling silver jewelry and derived hours of pleasure from making original castings. The next art style involved creating "fun people" from various antique pieces. Many of those were sold at the Toledo Museum of Art. He next began abstract painting on wood as well as using abstract painting to make cards and sending over 100 Christmas and Valentine cards each year. He was deeply knowledgeable of his own genealogy and helped others do theirs.

A celebration of Phil's life will be Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation Church, 315 Clay Street, Carey, Ohio, 43316. Catholic Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky, will conduct a Mass at 11 a.m. followed by visitation and lunch at Shrine cafeteria.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to a charity of the donor's choice or flowers sent to a loved one.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.bayliffandson.com – Bayliff & Son Funeral Home, Cridersville, Ohio.