Thinking of our dear friend Hans who left this World 2 years ago and now lives in Heaven. Thinking especially of dear Yoko at this time and how much she misses the love of her life and Soul mate. Sending love and hugs to Yoko and remembering the happy times we had with Hans. With love from Christine and David  in the UK.x

Hans was a wonderful person and a huge loss to us. I pray for your peace in this very difficult time Yoko. You and Hans was always so kind and gracious to me when I was living in Honolulu. You both are such special people. May you find calm and peace during these sad times.

Hans was a consummate professional and mentor.  His friendship was genuine and transcended generations.  While old enough to be our father, he always ensured we were treated as friends of one generation.  As a dental hygienist, Lina was always impressed with the fact that Hans still had all his natural teeth, including all wisdom teeth which is very rare, yet a testament to his life of well being in body, mind and spirit.  Knowing Hans, he is probably on the Heaven's Owners Association Board ensuring only those deserving are granted access to the Pearly Gates.  You shall be missed by many, my friend; however, we shall all be reunited with you and our other loved ones at some point in the distant future.  God bless Hans and his new adventure in Heaven and those left behind, especially his lifetime love Yoko.

Hello,l'm Nami Ishigaki.(My mother is Kiyomi ;Mrs.Yoko’ cousin)
At first, let me apologize for my poor English.
On behalf of relatives, please accept my sincere sympathy.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Mr Gerner.
And dear Mrs. Yoko, If there’s anything we can do to help, please let us know.
Please come back Japan Yamagata anytime. We all welcome you anytime.
 


The whole Gerner family loves traveling. So, even with the distance between Europe and the US, we met nearly on a yearly base. And more than once we were the first house guests at each other’s new homes. 
We stayed with Hans and Yoko longer than most other guests. But when showing up it was always more like coming home than visiting.
When staying with Hans or when Skyping we always discussed a lot of things including politics and technical stuff. These discussions always widened our thoughts and views on the world and we will definitely miss them.
We had a lot of fun at cities like Atlanta, Bonn, Hannover, Honolulu, Naples, Raleigh, Rostock, Wilmington and of course Las Vegas, just to mention some.
My relationship to Hans was much more than Uncle-Nephew, it was like Father-Son.
We will always remember Hans’ hospitality, the trips we did together in the different parts of the world and all the great days we spend together. 
We are so glad that he had such a happy and full life and we are happy that he didn’t suffer.
He will always have a special place in our hearts. 
Dear Hans, you loved the sea, so we wish you fair winds and following seas for your last journey and you should join the dance club up there, so that you are as fit as you always were when we meet again in heaven at some point.
Dr. Christian Gerner with Family

Lieber Hans, 
Dein plötzlicher Tod haben Sigrid und mich sehr betroffen gemacht und uns tief erschüttert.
Du warst für mich als mein ältester Bruder immer ein Vorbild und ich habe zu Dir aufgeschaut.
Wir haben gemeinsam im Jahr 1945  die Flucht von Pommern nach Kerßenbrock bei Osnabrück  und die 7 Jahre dort gut überstanden.
Auch in der anschließenden Zeit in Hannover warst Du immer für mich da, und Du hast mir in vielen Dingen geholfen.
Ich habe mit Dir das Fahrradfahren gelernt und die Lateinvokabeln geübt.
Am 31.März 1963 hast Du die Reise in die U.S.A. angetreten und bist dort für uns immer ein hervorragender Ansprechpartner gewesen.
Wir konnten Dich in Deiner neuen Heimat 12 mal besuchen und Du hast uns den „American way  of Live“ näher gebracht.
Dafür und für die vielen anderen Dinge recht herzlichen Dank.
Vielleicht sehen wir uns im Himmel dann einmal wieder.
Deine Sigrid und Jürgen.

We met Hans and Yoko through the SCA Ballroom Dance Club.  The 2 of them worked as a team and added such positive energy to the Club.  Hans served as our President for 2 years and when no one volunteered to run for the position, he again volunteered to serve  for another year.  The 2 of them opened up their house to store all the Club's decorating supplies.  At each Ballroom Dance,  Hans would watch out for someone not dancing and ask that person to dance.  Hans was a wonderful man and we SO appreciate all he did for the SCA Ballroom Dance Club.

In Loving Memory,   Jack and Carole Yocum

Such happy memories of such a lovely Man. The last time we met was in a Hotel in Southampton, England when Hans and Yoko were on a cruise and during a stopover in Southampton we had dinner together and what a wonderful evening spent catching up and lots of laughter. Yoko has been a friend for over 40 years and it was many years before we met Hans, he was a real gentleman and such fun to be with and we loved him and Yoko very much. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Yoko, her family and Hans family in Germany, and though we cannot be with you all on  March 6th we will make a farewell toast to Hans and will be thinking of you all dancing the night away, just like he would be. God bless Hans  and may you sleep peacefully in Heaven. X




"Mr. Gerner," as I knew him, was the first neighbor I remember as a child. As our biological grandparents lived in California and India, Mr. Gerner became a surrogate grandfather, always taking care of us when our parents were away. Even as a child, the Gerners treated me as an adult: they took me to the golf course, listened to my thoughts on politics, and spent time with me as if I was their own. Here I was, this Indian-American kid, with a set of "grandparents" who were Japanese and German! 
They helped to nurture my personal development- and I will always be thankful for my childhood with the Gerners. I am now a proud U.S. Foreign Service Officer, a career diplomat serving abroad in the Middle East. I hope that Mr. Gerner knows that he had a positive impact in my life, and helped to influence my decision to lead a global life. I will always remember his strong personality and booming laughter that made his presence known in a room. My condolences go out to his family in Germany and America, especially Mrs. Gerner- if there is anything I can do, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Thanks, 

Nikhil Lakhanpal
Vice Consul
U.S. Department of State

OBITUARY

Hans M. B. Gerner, PhD

6 March, 1934 – 28 January, 2020

Palm Eastern Mortuary & Cemetery

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