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Robert Gerlach Obituary
St. George
Dr. Robert Louis Gerlach, 76 years old; passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2016. He was born on November 16, 1940, in Guthrie, Oklahoma, to Charles Frederick Gerlach and Avalie Genevieve d'Avignon Gerlach. He married Carol Louise McKee on November 16, 1962, in Ponca City Oklahoma.
Bob was raised in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and enjoyed waterskiing with his brother, Richard, after working in his dad's Studebaker shop fixing cars. He served as a member of his high school ROTC where he learned to shoot cannons and rifles.
His education included a Bachelor's degree from Northwestern University Technological Institute where he graduated third in his class. Bob continued his education at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. where he received a PhD in physics and their two sons, Scott and Brett were born.
His employment began when he was hired by Sandia Labs in Albuquerque New Mexico, to be a research scientist. Then he worked for Varian industries in Palo Alto California. The move to Minneapolis was the next career destination, working for Physical Electronics in Minnetonka, Minnesota. It was in Minneapolis that his two daughters, Avalie Lynn and Cheri Louise, were born. His final career move was to Portland, Oregon, where Bob worked for FEI Co. During his career, Bob received 24 United States Patents for his work inventing the Scanning Electron Microscope and work in Auger Spectrosopy.
Bob traveled extensively around the world with his work visiting over 20 foreign countries. His gentle, quiet nature was appreciated by all who met him.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Louise Gerlach, of St. George, Utah; his children and their spouses, Robert Scott Gerlach, Brett Cornell Gerlach, married to Vicki Lisa Richards, of America Fork, Utah, Avalie Lynn Muhlestein married to Trent David Muhlestein of Eagle Mountain, Utah, and Cheri Louise Robinson married to Ryan Clayne Robinson of Syracuse, Utah. He is survived by 22 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Charles Richard Gerlach, of Pleasanton, Texas.
Funeral services will be on Saturday, December 17, 2016, at 10 AM at the Spilsbury Mortuary located at 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, Utah. There will be a viewing Saturday one hour prior to services. Interment will take place in the Tonaquint Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionary fund.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, St. George, UT, (435) 673-2454. Friends and family are invited to sign Robert's guestbook at www.spilsburymortuary.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Robert Gerlach
Sponsored by Spilsbury Mortuary - St. George.
2 Entries
December 16, 2016
Bob and i spent many years together while we were doing research at Cornell University and later at Physical Electronics where he was a major contributor to PHI's success. He was a gifted scientist and highly devoted to his family.
May he rest in peace,
Paul Palmberg
John Hammond
December 13, 2016
Bob was a brilliant scientist at Physical Electronics where I got to know him. I also remember him as a compassionate friend who cared about all the members of PHI and always had time to share a supporting word in times of need. I will miss him
John Hammond
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Spilsbury Mortuary - St. George110 South Bluff Street, Saint George, UT 84770
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Spilsbury Mortuary - St. George110 South Bluff Street, Saint George, UT 84770
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Spilsbury Mortuary - St. George110 South Bluff Street, Saint George, UT 84770
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