Gertrude B. Gerhardt, “Trudie,” age 84, of State Highway 168, passed away on Thursday evening, June 5, 2008, in Little Falls Hospital. She had the comfort of her loving family at her side.
She was born on September 16, 1923, in Mohawk, daughter of the late Lyle B. and Ethel Markley Brown. A lifelong area resident, she was raised in Mohawk and was a graduate of Mohawk High School.
Trudie was a proud veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Army. During her military service she was a chauffeur for General J. Robert Oppenheimer, who directed the Los Alamos Lab in the development of the atomic bomb. She was honorably discharged in 1945.
On September 6, 1945, she was united in marriage with Ward Frederick Gerhardt by the Reverend William Wilbur in German Flatts. They shared a loving and devoted union of 53 years until his passing on December 10, 1998.
Mrs. Gerhardt was a dedicated wife, mother and homemaker. She was a member of the Paines Hollow United Methodist Church. Trudie had a strong sense of community; she was a member and had served as treasurer for the Herkimer County Mental Health Auxiliary. She volunteered her time at Rosewood Terrace in Richfield Springs, the Country Manor in Herkimer, the House of the Good Shepard, Pinefield and RSVP.
Trudie was happiest when she was surrounded by her many friends and family, especially grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be truly missed.
Surviving are four sons, Dale and his wife, Carol Gerhardt, of Tomahawk, Wis.., Keith Gerhardt, of Jordanville, Wayne Gerhardt, of Mohawk, and Ward Gerhardt, of Ilion; a daughter, Ethel Jean and her husband, Duncan Lee II, of Upper Nyack; three sisters, Sally Baum, of Mohawk, Barbara Morse and her husband, Karl, of Mohawk, and Laura Baty, of Groton; 20 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides her parents and husband, Ward, she was preceded in death by her son, Randy M. Gerhardt. in 1992; her grandson, Todd Matthew Gerhardt, in 1998; and three brothers, Lyle, Lester and Richard Brown.
Funeral service will be on Thursday at 11 a.m. in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court St., Herkimer. The Reverend Hans Drews will officiate. Interment will follow in Mohawk Cemetery. The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Wednesday from 4 until 7 p.m. Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to the House of the Good Shepard. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.