Gerald Zuerlein, age 89, of Columbus, died Sunday, June 11, 2017 at the Columbus Care & Rehabilitation Center.
Gerald was born January 19, 1928 in Humphrey, Nebraska to Damian and Mary (Sueper) Zuerlein. He grew up in Humphrey where he graduated from St. Francis High School. He worked with his father as a mason. On July 26, 1949 Gerald married Helen Mae Goeckel. He worked for over 30 years at Sand Implement and Beller & Backes as a mechanic. Gerald married Loretta Heine on July 24, 1982. He was a member of St. Isidore Catholic Church, Holy Name, Secular Franciscans and served as an EMHE.
Gerald is survived by:
wife: Loretta Zuerlein of South Sioux City, NE
daughter: Phyllis (Duane) Vavra of Columbus
daughter: Karen (Kenneth) Anderson of North Platte
son: Richard Zuerlein of Columbus
daughter: Joan Rathjen-Davis of Columbus
daughter: Mary (Ray) Hemmer of Humphrey
son: Ivan Zuerlein of Kearney
16 grandchildren 14 great grandchildren
sister: Rosemary Preister of Columbus
sister-in-law: Rosemary (Joe ) Moore of Columbus
He is preceded in death by:
first wife: Helen Mae Zuerlein
parents: Damian & Mary Zuerlein
brothers & in laws: Tony (Leona), Mark (Margaret), Victor (Betty), Sylvester, Paul (Esther)
sisters and in-laws: Margaret (Albert) Pfeifer, Evelyn (Bob) Gilsdorf,
grandson: Gregory Hemmer
twin siblings: in infancy