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Visitation:
4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, January 13, 2023 at St.
John United Church of Christ in Lincoln
Second Visitation: 9 a.m.
to 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 14th at the church
Service:
10 a.m. Saturday at the church
Funeral home:
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader, Lincoln
Obituary
Gerald “Jerry” Gehlbach, 81, of
Lincoln, Illinois passed away on Saturday, January
7, 2023, at the Vonderlieth Living Center in Mount
Pulaski.
Jerry was born at St. John Evangelical Deaconess
Hospital on May 23, 1941, in Lincoln, the son of
Albert and Iola (Garton) Gehlbach. During his
sophomore year at the University of Illinois, he met
his life partner Nancy Lawrence on a blind date.
Their relationship survived a failed and injurious
attempt to impress Nancy on ice skates, and they
married on August 11, 1962, in Hinsdale. They had
two sons: Scott Gehlbach (Maria Belodubrovskaya) and
Brian Gehlbach (Krista Johnson). Jerry was preceded
in death by his parents, Albert and Iola Gehlbach.
He is survived by his wife and sons; brother Donald
Gehlbach (Ann Gehlbach); grandchildren Emma Gehlbach,
Jacob Gehlbach, and Adrian Gehlbach; nephew Chad
Gehlbach (Michele Dupré); niece Jody Agnacian
(George Agnacian); great niece Lily Agnacian; and
great nephew Charlie Agnacian.
Jerry graduated from the University of Illinois with
a B.S. in Agricultural Economics and an M.S. in
Animal Science. At Illinois, he was a member of
Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, where he found a set of
lifelong friends. Following university, he returned
home to Gehlbach Pork Farms to work with his father
and brother. Albert was an innovator in the
industry, a tradition that Jerry continued in
subsequent decades, including when the home
operation divided into two, with Jerry at the helm
of what became Heritage Pork Farm. When not working
on the farm, Jerry was frequently found in his home
office, which he shared with Nancy, and was active
in the Logan County Pork Producers and the Illinois
Pork Council.
Scott and Brian were born in the late 1960s, with
astronauts on the moon in the last days of Nancy's
pregnancy with Brian. After a flirtation with
horses, Jerry and Nancy eventually settled on
boating as a hobby. Many a summer weekend was spent
with Jerry piloting the boat as Nancy and the boys
skied behind. Jerry and Nancy also loved to travel,
even bringing their boys along on two European
tours, and in their retirement years especially they
saw much of the world. Sarasota, Florida was a
much-loved destination for the family, with many
good times spent walking on the beach, dining out,
and playing miniature golf. Often Nancy’s mother
accompanied them on trips—just one indication of the
kindness Jerry showed to his and Nancy’s parents.
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Jerry liked to be busy and enjoyed
using the many skills he developed on the farm,
whether he was serving as church council president,
replacing floors at the parsonage, installing a grab
bar for Nancy’s mom, or helping his kids with their
own home projects (including the construction of
multiple raised bed gardens built to defend against
any and all wildlife). He was one of the organizers
of the United Church of Christ Germanfest and loved
watching other people have a good time. He also had
a soft spot for babies and small children; he was
known by his family as the “baby whisperer.”
In his last years, Jerry lived with
dementia, including during the COVID-19 pandemic,
which he and Nancy weathered at their rural home. He
spent his final months at the H. and J. Vonderlieth
Living Center. His family is grateful to the staff
at Vonderlieth for their expert and gentle care
during this time.
Services for Jerry will be held at 10 a.m. on
Saturday, January 14, 2023, at St. John United
Church of Christ in Lincoln. An evening visitation
will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday,
January 13, 2023, at the same location. An
additional hour of visitation will take place prior
to the service on Saturday.
Burial will follow the services at New Union
Cemetery in Lincoln, Illinois. Face masks are
encouraged for both visitation and service.
Memorial donations may be made in Jerry’s name to
St. John United Church of Christ at 204 7th Street,
Lincoln, Illinois 62656;
the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at
https://alzfdn.org/
support-us/donate/;
or the Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho
(Scholarship Funds) at
https://www.alphagamma
rho.org/donate.
Services have been entrusted to
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Homes, Lincoln.
Click here to send a note of condolence to the family of Gerald
“Jerry” Gehlbach
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