Dr. Gerald I. Gerig

Dr. Gerald I. Gerig , 91, of Berne, passed away Sunday, January 13, 2019 at Swiss Village in Berne.

He was born on Monday, April 25, 1927 in Woodburn, Indiana the son of the late Rev. Chris Gerig and the late Rose (Kliewer) Gerig. On August 3, 1951 he married Coyla Crow in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She preceded him in death in August 2009.

He was a graduate of Berne High School and following high school, served in the U.S. Navy. He spent four years at Fort Wayne Bible College where he received a Bachelor in Sacred Music. Following those four years, he traveled, along with Rev. Robert Magary, in five countries holding meetings for Youth for Christ. When he returned from that trip, he took another year of training at the College and then served as field representative for the College. He later became pastor in Dodge City, Kansas; Missionary Churches in Decatur and Berne, and then served as editor of the Berne Tri-Weekly paper and later had a private counseling ministry in an office provided by Dr. Robert Boze. In California Dr. Gerig pastored the Missionary Church in Van Nuys and later became the Associate and Interim Pastor of the 10,000 member First Baptist Church of Van Nuys. Upon the Gerigs return to Berne, Dr. Gerig served on the staff of First Missionary Church doing administration and hospital visitation.

Survivors include his son, Kurt (Jo) Gerig of Berne; daughter, Marcia (Ray) VanGelder of Johns Creek, GA; daughter, LuAnn (Dan) Fulton of Huntington, IN; two sisters, Geraldine Gerig of Fort Wayne, and Berdaline Cleveland of Spring Arbor, MI; sister in law, Caroline Gerig of Fort Wayne, IN; seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. Donald Gerig.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 18, 2019 at First Missionary Church with Rev. Max Haines and Rev. Dathen Foust officiating. Interment will follow in the MRE Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 17, 2019 starting at 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Swiss Village Chapel for the residents and staff. Friends and family will then be received at the First Missionary Church from 2-8 p.m. and one hour prior to the 11:00 a.m. service on Friday at the church.

Preferred Memorials can be made to Family LifeCare or First Missionary Church - Christian Aid Fund.