John Walter Gerwig

John, born on November 4, 1946, in Charleston, WV., was the oldest child of Lt. Col. John W. Gerwig and Julia Droullard Gerwig.

John grew up in West Virginia and near or on military bases in Hawaii and the continental US. He graduated from North Hagerstown High School (Maryland) in 1964 and attended Marshall University in West Virginia.

After college John served his country and then was a program developer at EDS (Electronic Data Systems) in Dallas, TX, and a computer consultant for banks.

For two years, John helped Kim run her jazz club, Strictly Tabu. Then for the last twenty-five years, John co-managed their family-owned apartment buildings.

John was the President of the Santa Fe Neighborhood Association and Crime Watch. For area residents, he arranged monthly crime watch meetings, coordinating with local business leaders, the City of Dallas, and the police department.

John was a gentle, generous person, eager to use his skilled hands to create things for others. He was a strong Renaissance man who could and would take care of everything and everyone. John was there for Boy Scouts, neighbors, and family. Many of the apartment tenants considered John to be a friend and not just a landlord.

John was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Kathleen Gerwig Houston of McKinney, TX.

John is survived by his wife Kim and her children Jacob Olgreen (and Vanessa) of Mesquite, TX, Campbell Dowell IV and Elizabeth Dowell of Dallas, TX; by his former spouse Peggy Shilling Gerwig of McKinney, TX and their children Todd Shilling Gerwig (and Typhony) of Denton, TX and John Walter Gerwig III of McKinney, TX; and by his sister Susan Gerwig Penney of Seattle, WA. Additionally, he is survived by his grandchildren Willow Gerwig, Tyler Gerwig, Tanner Gerwig, Tessa Gerwig, and Alexander Hancock, all of Texas, and by a niece and four nephews.

A celebration of John’s life will be held at a later date at Highland Park United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, John’ his family would appreciate contributions in his memory to the Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation, 10 New King Street, Suite 202, White Plains, NY 10604. https://coloncancerfoundation.org/