William Earnest Gehrke (1919 - 2005)

Born 25 Oct 1919 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA

Ancestors

Died 9 Apr 2005 at age 85 in Magna, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA

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Biography

William E. Gehrke, husband and father, passed away peacefully Saturday morning at 1:40 a.m. from progressed stages of Parkinson's disease. At his passing he was attended by his sons Jack, Allen and James Gehrke.

He was born October 25, 1919 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the third child of Fred Richard and Augusta Theresa Tickchelmann Gehrke.

Bill was active in various sports including handball, bowling, golf, swimming, and football. In his youth he was a member of the Blair Street Bobcats.

Bill married Daisy Elise Yocom October 29, 1942; later divorced. Together they had five boys, William L. Gehrke, Jack F. Gehrke, Allen R. Gehrke, Jerry L. Gehrke, and James M. Gehrke.

Bill served in the Army Air Corp during World War II. He was stationed in various locations including Trinidad where he was part of an unusual military program working with homing pigeons.

Bill helped to organize, run and coach the Bonneville Western Boys Baseball Association at Municipal Ballpark in the early 1950's. Hundreds of boys have benefited from his efforts.

Bill helped pioneer the automatic pool cover industry and was instrumental in developing the first automatic safety cover, a device that has saved the lives of countless children around the world over the past 40 years.

Bill married Gloria Olson August 13, 1977 and has spent the last 28 years with her living in Magna, Utah.

Bill is preceded in death by his sister, Ruth Asmus; and brothers, Fred and Walter Gehrke.

Survived by his lovely wife, Gloria; sister, Betty McCleary; five sons; three stepchildren; 20 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 12, 2005, 11 a.m. at Deseret Mortuary, 36 East 700 South. A viewing will be Monday, April 11, 2005 from 6-8 p.m. and one hour prior to services.

The family wishes to thank Crossland's for their wonderful care given to Bill this last year.

Sources

• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=81728209