GERD DUNKELBERG

DUNKELBERG GERD-ROLAND DUNKELBERG (Age 57) Passed away Monday, October 31, 2016, after an eight-year battle with Multiple System Atrophy. Gerd was born in Lintorf, Germany, in 1959 to Gerhardt and Helga (Linge) Dunkelberg. He grew up in the Dusseldorf area, and completed his Abitur at Kopernikus Gymnasium. Gerd served four years in the German Bundeswehr, most of this time in Belgium, where he later settled. After a brief marriage, he became a single father of his young daughter, Samantha. While directing community theater in Belgium, he met Kelley Grady, a U.S. Navy officer from Gaithersburg, MD. They married in 1992, and were blessed with 2 more children, Michael and Lara. After two years studying Acting and Directing at Monterey Peninsula College, CA, Gerd was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Maryland Baltimore County, completing his Bachelor degree in Visual Arts in 1998. After brief family tours in Italy and Japan, Gerd was hired as a manager at Swank Audio-Visuals in Alexandria, VA and later Gaithersburg, MD. In addition, he taught German language classes at the Deutsche Schule in Potomac. Following his lifelong passion for film, Gerd was a guest lecturer on German Film History at the Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State, where he was later hired as a German Language & Culture Instructor in 2003. After becoming a U.S. citizen, Gerd became an Election Judge and served for several years. He was involved as an adult volunteer with the Boy Scouts, and participated in local soccer leagues. In 2007 he followed his wife on assignment with the State Department to Morocco, where he directed community theater and taught English classes at the U.S. Embassy. In 2009 he returned to his position at the Foreign Service Institute, where he taught German and developed new online courses. He was a member of Our Lady of the Visitation Parish in Darnestown, MD where he enjoyed volunteering. He remained a devoted husband, father, and friend, even as his health began to decline, maintaining his sense of humor and interest in movies, soccer, German cars, and Beethoven. Gerd is survived by his beloved wife, Kelley Grady Dunkelberg; and his children, Michael and Lara Dunkelberg of Gaithersburg; Samantha Dunkelberg of Dublin, Ireland and son-in-law, Alessandro Quarello; sister, Elke Heinz of Ratingen, Germany; cousin Ulrike Hayduk and Aunt Gisela and Uncle Roland Linge of Ratingen, Germany. A service celebrating his life will be held at Our Lady of the Visitation Parish, 14139 Seneca Road, Darnestown, MD 20874 on November 12, 2016, at 10 a.m., with a reception to follow. Inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.