Dominic Charles Gerbi

Dominic C. Gerbi, age 82 of Little Falls, MN passed away Thursday, May 21, 2009, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 11:30 A.M. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Little Falls with the Rev. Nick Landsberger officiating. A private family interment will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M. at Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls. The Knights of Columbus Office for the Dead will be held Tuesday evening at 6:00 P.M. at the funeral chapel followed by Parish Prayers at 7:00 P.M. Dominic Charles Gerbi was born June 25, 1926 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MN to the late Angelo and Adella Burggraff-Gerbi. His family moved to the rural Morrison County area where he grew up. Dominic attended elementary school in North Prairie, MN and graduated from Swanville High School with the Class of 1944. He entered the United States Navy on November 13, 1944. He received an Honorable Discharge on April 5, 1946. During his military service, Dominic served on an escort carrier in the South Pacific. After returning from the Navy, he worked at the Ben Franklin Store in Little Falls. Dominic was united in marriage to Jeanette Christle on September 28, 1948 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Royalton, MN. Following their marriage, the couple moved to Little Falls. Dominic worked at the Family Shoe Store and in the shoe department at the Leader Store in Little Falls. He also worked as a traveling shoe salesman. In 1971, Dominic and Jeanette purchased the R.A. Randall Insurance Agency from Tony Randall. In 1978, they purchased the Century 21 Real Estate Office in Little Falls retiring in 1988. He served as a Boy Scout Leader for Troop 88 for six years. Dominic helped start the Marathon for Catholic Education. He loved hunting, fishing, growing flowers, traveling, walking and visiting with friends and neighbors. Dominic's family, religion and community were the focus of his life. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Little Falls, serving as a past member of the parish council and as an usher, member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Little Falls Exchange Club, Little Falls V.F.W. Post #1112 and Little Falls American Legion Post #46. Dominic is survived by his wife, Jeanette; son, Mark Gerbi & friend, Jan Ouren of Little Falls, MN; daughters, Linda Lea of Chattanooga, TN, LaVonne Jacobson of Fargo, ND, LuAnn (Ray) Legatt of Rice, MN & Lynette Gerbi of Woodbury, MN; brother, Robert (Carol) Retka of Stanardsville, VA; sisters, Bernie Watson of Fredericksburg, TX, Donna Mae Lodermeier, of Iowa City, IA, Sue (Mel) Oelrich of Royalton, MN; grandchildren, Clay (Amber) Lundquist of Burbank, CA, Cody Jacobson of Fargo, ND, Kateri Hollingsworth of Chattanooga, TN, Jake Jelinski of St. Cloud, MN, Tony Jelinski of Rice, MN, Anthony Gerbi of Little Falls, MN, Heather Legatt of Rice, MN and Jeremy Legatt of Rice, MN, five great-grandchildren and many nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his father & mother, Angelo Gerbi & Adella Retka; step-father, James Retka; brothers, James Retka, Francis Retka, Hank Retka and Dave Retka. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials.