06242014Tue
Last updateFri, 20 Jun 2014 1pm
C. Price

Obituary - June 20, 2014

Part-time lakeside resident Earlene “Petee” Gerlach, 82, died on Friday, May 15.

Born December 7, 1931 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Gerlach had resided in North Palm Beach, Florida since 1964.  She was a graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she double majored in Business and Interior Design.  In 1954, Gerlach was the only female graduate of the Business School and was the first female member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Midwest for Commercial Design.  She was a member and president of the Alpha Delta Phi Sorority.

Gerlach was a committed volunteer for Cursillo, Jay Ministries and also an active member of Via de Cristo and The NPB Saturday Morning Reunion group. She loved to garden and read, especially the Bible and Fenelon’s “Seeking Heart.”  She was an avid bridge, domino and cribbage player.

Gerlach and her late husband split their time between their homes in Florida and in Ajijic, where she was involved with the School for the Deaf and the local food pantry.  She was a founding member of Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Ajijic.

Gerlach will always be remembered for her sweet and gentle demeanor and her ever-present smile.  Above all, she was a devoted daughter, wife, mother and friend. 

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 54 years, Dick Gerlach.  To honor and cherish her memory are her loving son and daughter, Peter Harry Gerlach II of North Palm Beach and Gretchen Anne Gerlach of Dallas, Texas.

For those desiring to do so, memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warriors Project (woundedwarriorsproject.org) or to the charity of their choice.