Gordon Gerling

Gordon Gerling, 94 year old resident of Little Falls, MN died Thursday, July 14 at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Little Falls, MN. The funeral services for Gordon will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at First United Church with Rev. Eric Shin officiating. A visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 20 at First United Church in Little Falls, MN. The burial will be held at 2pm the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls, MN. The Military Honors will be conducted by the Little Falls American Legion Post #46.

Gordon D. Gerling was born September 3, 1921 at the family home in Morton, Minnesota to the late Roy and Harriet (Bishop) Gerling. He graduated from Blue Earth High School and from Radar School at Dunwoody Institute. He served his country in the United States Army as a radio operator/ gunner on a B 24 with the 404th 11th Air Force Bomber squad, from September 6, 1943 until his honorable discharge on March 31, 1946.He was united in marriage to Bette on August 20, 1944 at Minnehaha Methodist Church in Minneapolis. He worked as a State Representative from 1957 to 1967. He authored a bill that started public access to lakes and Enlarged Camp Ripley from 30,000 acers to 65,000 acres. He also worked for United Power in Elk River for 20 plus years, as a lobbyist and performing government work. He enjoyed hunting deer, duck, pheasants, fishing salmon in Michigan- Walleyes in Minnesota. He had a deep abiding love for the outdoors, family and country. Golfing in Port Isabella, Texas, loved big band music, Gordon and Bette danced well into their 80s. Gordon was a talented woodworker, he participated in the Little Falls Craft fair for 15 years. He was a member of 1st united Methodist Church, Morrison County Historical Society, Lifetime member of the Little Falls American Legion, Pine Grove Zoo, Veterans Memorial Art Project Committee. Memorials are preferred to Veterans Memorial Art Project. He will be deeply missed by his loving wife Bette, children Michael of Little Falls, Scott of Grand Rapids, Terri (Dan) Loftis of Andover, Janene (Nathan) Gerling Dunsmore, Boring, MD. Grandchildren, Dawn, Tami, Graham, Tyler, Elizabeth, Hans and Hanalore; great grandchildren, Christian, Wyatt, Grayson, Abi, Graeson, Grant, Mitchell Savannah, Makayla, and Ayla.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Harriet Gerling; brother, Jay Gerling; granddaughter, Stacey Gunderson and daughter in law Susan (Starr) Gerling.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Veterans Educational Historic Art Project. A project Gordon initiated with Charles Kapsner.

The memorials can be sent to:

INITIATIVE FOUNDATION405 FIRST ST. S.E. | LITTLE FALLS, MINN. 56345