Florence Naomi Gerlach, 101, of Raymond, passed away Wed., July 20, 2022 at 6:15 a.m. at Sunrise Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation in Virden.
Mrs. Gerlach was born December 23, 1920 in Waggoner, IL to Paul Quincy and Margaret (Brubaker) Long. She graduated from Waggoner High School, and attended Rubicon Business School in St. Louis and University of Illinois. On November 3, 1940, she married Gordon L. Gerlach at Waggoner Christian Church. He preceded her in death on January 21, 2013. She was employed with the Springfield Mass Transit District and Springfield Dry Goods. Mrs. Gerlach moved to St. Louis, MO during WWII; to support the war effort, she worked at Emerson Electric. After the war, she and her husband returned to Waggoner to farm and moved to Raymond in 1975. She was a member of Union Avenue Christian Church in Litchfield and the Shasta Trailer Club. She enjoyed going to Florida for winter retreat. She also enjoyed fishing, quilting, and baking, especially Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, Cinnamon Rolls and Birthday Filling Cakes.
Mrs. Gerlach is survived by:
1 son, Steve (Pat) Gerlach of Waggoner.
1 daughter, Kim (David) Jaeger of Waggoner.
6 grandchildren, Cindy (Tony) Lamantia of Old Monroe, MO; Brenda Hendricks of Edwardsville; Eric (Angie) Gerlach of Waggoner; Cassie (Matt) Hawk of Edinburg; Kaitlyn (Josh) Ruben of Springfield; and Brett (Fiancée Hanna Poggenpohl) Jaeger of Raymond.
8 great-grandchildren, Jacob Lamantia; Lynsey (Colby) Anderson; Lillian Hendricks; Julianne Hendricks; Peter Hendricks; Jordyn Gerlach; Kaylee Gerlach; and Ada Hawk.
2 great-great-grandchildren, Ethan and Louie Anderson.
A sister-in-law, Carolyn Long of Waggoner.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Duane Gerlach, on November 7, 2021; a daughter-in-law Bobette Gerlach on April 13, 2016; a brother, Charles Long on July 14, 2009; and a sister, Virginia Elmore on April 11, 2019.
Funeral services for Mrs. Gerlach will be held on Sat., July 23, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Rev. Paul Jones of Waggoner Christian Church will officiate. Burial will be in Asbury Cemetery in Raymond. Visitation will be held beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday until the time of service at the funeral home.
Memorials may be designated to Doyle Memorial Public Library in Raymond.
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