Frederick Gerlach

Just Cremation

– Frederick Leon Gerlach, 87, of Missoula, passed away Saturday, June 4, 2016, at Village Health Care Senior Residences of natural causes.  Fred was born July 7, 1928, in Versailles, Ohio, to Rudolph and Clara Gerlach. Fred was the youngest of seven siblings growing up in Versailles and learning the shoe business from his parents and older siblings at Gerlach Bootery. Upon Fred’s graduation, he continued to work part time for his family business and worked full time on an assembly line building cash registers in Dayton, Ohio.  In 1947, Fred became a full-time student at Ohio State University majoring in forestry. The summers of 1948-52 he worked for the USFS on the St. Joe National Forest at St. Maries, Idaho, which led him to enroll at the University of Montana School of Forestry in 1949. He graduated with a bachelor of science in forestry in 1952.  Fred’s military experience started while at school with the Army Reserve and in October 1952 he entered active duty as a second lieutenant completing infantry officer and engineer officer training and was assigned as an instructor of engineering. In April of 1953 he was selected for the Army Aviation training program. He earned his wings as a fixed-wing and helicopter pilot and was ordered to join the 30th Engineer Topographic Battalion for a mapping mission in Alaska. He continued active duty until 1955 and was honorably discharged from the Army Reserve in 1962.  Fred met his life companion in 1951, Margaret Kirkpatrick, at the University of Montana and on Dec. 27, 1952, they were married in Vancouver, British Columbia. Their first years together home was where the Army wanted Fred. In 1955 they found their way back to Missoula and began a new life as civilians. They were blessed with four children, Clara, Patricia Lynn, Bruce and Lori Ann.  Fred’s civilian employment began in 1955 with Johnson’s Flying Service in Missoula as a commercial pilot flying airplanes and helicopters until 1977. His flying career continued with Schillinger Helicopters, the U of M in his teaching of aerial photogrammetry, remote sensing, surveying and MAPSPACE Resources International.  The fall of 1955 he was accepted as a graduate assistant in forestry at the University of Montana and received his master's in 1957. He was convinced that his experience in mapping and aviation had value in the field of forestry, and much of his professional teaching career was demonstrating many new applications of modern mapping with aviation. He introduced Global Positioning Systems to forestry in 1985 and produced some 25 extension courses in GPS for natural resource managers. His courses drew participants from all over the world and had him traveling to Europe and China. He retired from UM in 1994 and continued his career with his company, MAPSPACE Resources International, consulting and presenting seminars on mapping and GPS until 1998.  Fred was a member of the Missoula Exchange Club, National Exchange Club, Missoula Elks Lodge No. 383, Missoula Eagles, Immanuel Lutheran Church and numerous professional organizations.  Fred was a loving husband, father, grandfather and the rock of the family. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, skiing, camping, golfing, gardening and spending time with family.  Fred is survived by his daughters, Clara (Darnell) Kahler of Missoula and Lori Ann (Jim) Findlay of Jackson, Wyoming; his son, Bruce (Cherie) Gerlach of Polson; along with four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Fred was preceded in death by his wife Margaret and daughter Patricia Lynn.  Memorial and interment will be at 3 p. m. Thursday, July 7, at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery followed by a celebration of his life at 5 p. m. at the Missoula Eagles. Fred requests that you bring a smile, story (bad or good), and he will buy the Kokanee.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Museum of Mountain Flying, 713 S. Third St. W. , Missoula, MT 59801.

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Frederick Gerlach Obituary | Just Cremation