Carl was welcomed to this world by parents Carl F. Gerds Jr. and Dorothy (Nieman) Gerds on May 22, 1952, in East Detroit, now known as Eastpointe. Carl graduated from Lutheran High School East in Harper Woods and attended Concordia Lutheran College in Illinois before earning his undergraduate degree at the University of Detroit. From there, Carl attended the University of Michigan Law School and earned his Juris Doctorate degree.
After law school, Carl worked for the East Detroit law office of attorney Joseph Mihelich. Carl later opened his own practice with his partner Mark Fugolo, building a new law office in Eastpointe. Carl was elected to Eastpointe City Council and later appointed Mayor Pro Tem. In 2008, Carl was elected as the 38th District Court Chief Judge where he served for 12 years until his retirement.
Lifelong members of St. Peter’s Lutheran in Eastpointe, Carl and Roslyn first met when they went to school there as children. St. Peter’s is also where both were baptized in 1952, confirmed in 1966, and married in 1974. Their three children and seven grandchildren were also all baptized at St. Peter’s and attended school there. Now, Carl will have his final resting place there next to his parents.
Carl also held many positions at church, school, Lutheran Fraternities of America #57, city organizations, and as a volunteer. He was the chairman of St. Peter’s congregation, chairman of St. Peter’s Board of Education, and chairman of St. Peter’s Early Childhood Center Capital Campaign Committee. He also served as president and chairman of the Board of Trustees of LFA #57.
As a lifelong resident of Eastpointe, Carl had a long record of civic and community involvement. He served as chairman of the Eastpointe Civil Service Commission, Eastpointe Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Eastpointe Downtown Development Authority. He also was a member and past president of the Eastpointe Chamber of Commerce and served on numerous boards and advisory commissions.
Carl had many achievements. He worked very hard to become the 38th District Court Judge and continued to work hard to have a respected court, but he was a humble man who did not dwell on his recognitions. His most notable, and proudest, achievement was the family that he and his wife were able to raise and the seven grandchildren he lived to know and love with all his heart.
Carl was proud of his three loving daughters and was very involved and supportive in their lives. He started coaching them as 5-year-olds playing T-ball and continued as their coach through high school basketball. He went on class trips with each daughter to Washington, D.C., and organized family vacations that everyone looked forward to. His family loved spending time with him during his last few days as much as he loved being with them. That is a wonderful achievement indeed.
Carl is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Roslyn (Middeldorf) Gerds; cherished daughters Dr. Jenna Gerds, Beth (Drew) Jablonowski, and Caitlin (Brandon) Habermas; adoring grandchildren Lily, Daisy, Violet, and Rosie Jablonowski as well as Eliza, Carl (Charlie), and Charlotte Habermas; loving siblings Cathy (John) Kutz and Gordon (Phyllis) Gerds; cherished aunts and uncles Ruth Schalk, Ron (Joann) Gerds, and Audrey Gerds; and 11 loving nieces and nephews.
Visitation will take place Wednesday, February 1st, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a 7 p.m. LFA memorial service at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 32000 Schoenherr Road in Warren. Carl will lay in state at 10 a.m. until time of funeral service at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 2 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 23000 Gratiot Ave. in Eastpointe. Burial to take place at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Cemetery following the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church are appreciated.
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