John J. Gerlach

Visitation for John J. Gerlach, 79, of Island Lake, will be held Sunday, September 15, 2024, from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 415 S. Buesching Road, Lake Zurich. Family and friends will meet, Monday, September 16, 2024, at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 254 N. Wood Dale Road, Wood Dale, for a 11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass. The Interment will follow at 2:30 PM at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois, with full military honors.

John was the beloved husband of Gabriela A. Gerlach (nee Los); loving father of Benjamin (Michelle) Gerlach, Steve (Nicolette) Gerlach, Mary Ann Gerlach, Karen (Steven MD) Gerlach MD, and loving grandfather of Rush, Ginger, and Jonathan.

Dear son of the late Josef and Anna Gerlach; fond brother of Joseph and Stanley Gerlach.

Son-in-law to the late Leokadia Los, Wladyslaw (Marianna) Smagala and late Stanislaw Los; Bother-in-law to Chester (Elizabeth) Los. The family is profoundly grateful to sister-in-law Teresa Remi for her skillful and compassionate nursing care. John was also a loving father-figure to Jack Remi, John (Tasia) Remi, and grand father-figure to Michael, Mathew, Thomas, and Elizabeth.

He was a man of many talents and skills. In his youth he helped his mother and father run a farm, served in Vietnam, was a miner in Montana, a skilled carpenter, and successful business owner.

He enjoyed cross country trips with his family. He taught his children perseverance through his projects, one of which was building his home. He loved meeting new people, new experiences, and time away from the city. He had an infectious sense of humor and helped so many people through his life.