John H. Gerhardt

John H. Gerhardt 1919 � 2010 GAINESVILLE, VA � John H. Gerhardt, 90, of Gainesville, VA, and formerly of Holyoke, MA, died Monday, January 11, 2010. He was born in Chicopee on November 10, 1919 to the late John and Katharina (Jung) Gerhardt. He attended schools in Holyoke and Northampton. Mr. Gerhardt served our country in the United States Army Air Force for two years and then as a Lieutenant in the Army Ordinance Department for two years during World War II. While in the military, John earned the American Theater Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. He worked at United Elastic Corp. in Easthampton and then at the University of Massachusetts as a maintenance foreman. John was active in the First Lutheran Church and later in the St. Peter�s Lutheran Church both in Holyoke. His wife, Ruth E. (Meyer) Gerhardt, predeceased him in 1993. He leaves two daughters, Christel Payne of Fairfax, VA and Paula Ellison of Gainesville, VA; two brothers, Arthur of Albany, N.Y. and Paul of Indio, CA; two grandchildren, Matthew Payne and Katherina Payne; one great-grandson, Samuel Payne and numerous nieces and nephews. John was also predeceased by one brother and one sister. A funeral procession will form on Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 8:45 a.m. at the Messier Funeral Home, 1944 Northampton St, Holyoke. There will be a Service of Remembrance at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter�s Lutheran Church, Jarvis Ave, Holyoke. Burial will follow the Service in Forestdale Cemetery in Holyoke. Calling hours will be on Friday, January 15, 2010 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in John�s memory, to either the St. Peter�s Lutheran Church, 34 Jarvis Ave, Holyoke, MA, 01040 or to the Alzheimer�s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.