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Gerlich, James W.
James W. Gerlich, 85, of Cedar Rapids, died at home, Tuesday, October 26, 2010. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Monday at All Saints Catholic Church by the Rev. David O'Connor. Interment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, with military honors. A visitation will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday and after 9:30 a.m. Monday at the church.
Survivors include his children, Kathy (Ralph) Russell of Cedar Rapids and William (Dawn) Gerlich of Marion; four granddaughters, Katie Dolter (fiance, Nick Boyd) of Chicago, Jill Dolter of Naperville, Ill., and Jennifer and Kelly Gerlich of Marion; two brothers, Edward (Ruth) Gerlich of Sioux City and Robert (Alvina) Gerlich of Hazel Green, Wis.; three sisters, Alice (Jim) Sauser of League City, Texas, Mary Underhill of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., and Carol Gassman of Maurice, La.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 40 years, Lila; his son, James E. Gerlich and his fiancee, Christine Williams; and two sisters, Velma Jones and Ruth Heying.
Jim was born Nov. 5, 1924, in Bellevue, Iowa, the son of Julius and Eleanor Griebel Gerlich. He served his country as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps from May 1943 to June 1946. On Aug. 17, 1949, he was united in marriage to Lila M. Pregler in Dubuque. He graduated from the University of Iowa, with a degree in civil engineering. He was a licensed professional engineer in civil engineering and electrical engineering. In 1953, Jim accepted a position at Howard R. Green Co. in Cedar Rapids. In 1986, he retired from that company as a principal owner and first vice president. He published several articles on municipal wastewater treatment. He is listed in the World Book of Who's Who in Engineering.
Jim was an award winning woodcarver and a member of the Cedar Valley Woodcarvers. He was a founding member of Mended Hearts, and an active volunteer of SCORE since 1987. Jim enjoyed spending his free time at the family cottage on the Mississippi at Bellevue. There was nothing more important to Jim than his family. He valued each and every day with them. We will all miss him dearly.
Memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous or All Saints Catholic Church.
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