Mr. Gerstner was a very fun teacher at Riverdale Middle.  I have fond memories of his English class and National Junior Honor Society.  May the Lord Bless his loved ones.

I miss you and love you very much Daddy. I know you and Robert have been protecting my friends, Shane, and I lately. I'm glad you're one of my guardian angels. <3

oh mr. gerstner , what an inspiration!! thank you for leading me in such a great path, happy early birthday , much love sent your way ! <3

He was a teacher of mine in elementary school at Alva. I kind a patient man. He left his prints on many young minds.
Sean Coate

oh! mr .gerstner I wish I can hear your voice again to lead me on and telling me to try harder I remember when we had that mushroom contest haha! :] I was the first to chicken out I miss you mr .gerstner I wish I could tell you in person how happy I am for you that you accomplished everything in life a wonderful teacher an amazing husband a magnificent father / grandfather and now I hope youre living a peaceful time. well I miss you and I loved how you were the only teavher who cared for me I love u mr.gerstner. ots of love makayla Stabenow R.I.P.

We will always remember Bill's excitement and joy while leading the music ministry! Thanks you for all your faithfulness to god's work!

We will always remember Bill's excitement and joy while leading  the music  ministry!  Thank You for your  faithfulness to God's work!

Rick and Ping Wiseman

We're so sorry to hear about Bill's passing . He  taught drama to my granddaughters, the Sniders girls. I worked with Bill at  in literacy. He was a caring and shining  individual person. Our prayers are with you all.
Mary  Root

We're so sorry to hear about Bill's passing . He  taught drama to my granddaughters, the Sniders girls. I worked with Bill at  in literacy. He was a caring and shining  individual person. Our prayers are with you all.

Mr. Gerstner was one of the most influential teachers I've ever had. He never failed to put a smile on everyone's face inside and outside of the classroom. He helped me and so many others get out of their comfort zones and find themselves. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to have him as a teacher and a friend after middle school. My heart breaks for his family and I know he is loved and cared for by so many people, including myself. You will be missed.

He was an amazing teacher.  May he rest in peace.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you Michele, Eric, Brandy and Bonnie. We will miss Bill so much in Choir and Awana. The cubbies loved when Mr Bill led the singing. Bill's "This little light of Mine" will shine over Lehigh Acres forever. Love in Christ. Linda & Family

Mr. Gerstner taught all three of the Rene children 

We are praying for his family.

Anne Rene

What a wonderful and understanding Teacher who will be missed by all.
Condolences to his family.

My fondest memories of LAMS(87-89) have Mr. Gerstner in them. He was kind, humorous, and extended so much love and encouragement to his students. I can truly say that he made a difference to so many of us.

My condolences the family. May the peace of The Lord be with you at this difficult time of loss.

Bill and his wife Michele so generously  shared of themselves with the community.  Bill left an indelible mark on so many lives.  Michele, Eric, Brandy,and Bonnie our prayers are with you. God bless your dear family.

Mr. Gerstner was a great husband, father and teacher. He sought to make life better for others and for that we will always be eternally grateful. Many thoughts and prayers go out to his family, may his memory live on through you all.

i just would like to send my love to the family ...... Na'kell Jackson

Mr. Gerstner was an amazing teacher. He had the ability to make students find their inner selves and discover talents they never knew existed...a difficult feat for a child in middle school. He had a wonderful sense of humor and will be missed by many. My sincerest condolences to his family. Rest in Peace...

My sympathies to the family on your loss. Bill was a great guy and I will always treasure my memories of our many theater endeavors with The Lehigh Players. You will be greatly missed.

Mr.Gerstner always looked out for his students and was a great inspiration.
Condolences to his family.

He was an amazing teacher, allowing his students to express themselves and empowering them to explore new directions. He was also a nice, funny, and generous guy. I knew him as my teacher, grew up with his family, and counted him as a friend as an adult. I will always have fond memories of him that I will treasure.

Bill and Michele were good friends for over 30 years.  We were even backyard neighbors.  We were "partners in crime" having been on the same teaching team for several years.  He was my daughter's first drama teacher, and I taught 3 of his 4 children.  He was an awesome teacher.  I'm going to miss you, dear friend. Till we meet again......

Bill was an amazing teacher and an even more amazing person.  We had hall duties one year where we would just laugh and laugh.  We were Co-Directors of the talent show together and probably had more fun than the kids.  I will miss his laugh, his kindness, his generosity of spirit, and his passion for kids.  I am praying for Michelle and the family. I will always love you Bill.

Bill has touched so many lives and and will be missed by many.  He was an amazing colleague but an even greater individual. He was an inspiration to me with his passion for the students and for staying true to the art that is teaching.  I will be forever grateful for his mentorship and for his laughter.

I remember the open house at Lehigh Acres Middle School when I transferred there in seventh grade. I visited the room of who would be my Language Arts teacher, Mr. Gerstner, and he told me that I should join his Drama class. At that point, I wasn't so sure about that. I was scared of being in front of people, having to do things in front of people. But I was also someone that had a hard time saying 'no'. Saying 'sure' was probably one of the best things I ever did. I don't even know what I would be doing right now if Mr. Gerstner hadn't gotten me into acting.

Aside from that, you were probably one of my favorite teachers, Mr. Gerstner. You were a big part of my life, between Language Arts, Drama, NJHS, and Gifted events, for the rest of my time at LAMS. Drama with you was my absolute favorite class. You were always optimistic, and you believed in everybody. You were definitely one of the most cool and fun teachers ever.

You told me that if I had any performances in high school, to tell you, because you wanted to come see me. I wish that you would be here to see me in my first musical this April, but I'm sure that you've got the best seat in the house now.

Rest in Peace, William Gerstner. You were a great teacher, and a great man. To his family, I am very sorry for your loss.

My heart breaks at the loss of such a wonderful friend, but it rejoices at the thoughts of that magnificent drama he is now preparing for us all in heaven.

I love you, my very dear and special friend,

Mr. Gerstner has been a part of my family for as long as I can remember. Our families went on countless vacations together to Boardwalk and Baseball, Red Coconut on Ft. Myers Beach, the Florida Keys, Disney and many other places I was too young to remember. As a teacher and mentor he is unmatched and will be greatly missed by all the hearts and lives he touched. Love You Mr. Gerstner I will always remember the important impact you have had on not only my life but my entire families lives. Family Love!

RIP.  Mr.Gerstner taught both my boys at Riverdale. He was a fantastic teacher and pushed my boys to do the work he knew they had in them even if they doubted themselves.

A awesome Teacher and a man with an amazing personality!!! Mr.Gerstner will be missed by many. Bonnie, my sincere condolences and prayers to you and your family.

Mr. Gerstner was a teacher at LAMS when I was a student there from 86-88.  I was privileged to have him as my classroom neighbor when I returned to LAMS as a teacher myself in 2009.  He was an excellent and passionate teacher and a great joy to know.  I called him the paragon of pedagogy, and so he was!  I am thankful to have known him.  My thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Gerstner and the family.

Mr. Gerstner was the advisor for NJHS when my daughter attended LMS. He was a nice man and the kids enjoyed being around him. He made cleaning the roadside fun for the kids.He was always smiling.  Prayers for his family. Godspeed Mr. Gerstner.

I was never a student in one of his classes but I was a member of NJHS and even though we only met once a month and then did trash pickup the next Saturday I still remember all of the fun we had. We were just picking up trash in the hot sun, early on a Saturday morning and he still made it fun.
He really cared a lot about the students and the community.

Bill was the type of teacher most of us strive to be.   After hearing the sad news I had the fortune of watching one of my favorite movies, Mr. Holland's Opus.   Richard Drefuss' character reminds me so much of Bill who was also loved by his students & colleagues.    This speaks volume.

Both my kids enjoyed Mr. Gerstner as their teacher.  We will always cherish the memories of his wonderful drama performances and road clean up days.  An excellent teacher and an inspiration to all!  You will be missed.

Little did I know 30 years ago when I began having morning coffee with Bill at Lehigh Acres Middle just how much his friendship would come to mean to me. I know that his strong belief in God's love will be a comfort to his family at this time. In many cultures it is believed that a person can never die as long as people remember their name and tell stories about them. That being said, Bill will be with us forever because the stories and memories will be shared forever. Though we all are hurting in our own way now we can be thankful that Bill touched our lives.

Bill was an outstanding individual, educator and sincere person. He will be missed by colleagues, friends, and formal students. He touched so many people's lives.
Sincerely
Dana and Elwood

Bill's exhuberant energy, infectious laugh, love of family, friends and students affected everyone who came in contact with him. He put his all into teaching, his church, and the community. He will be sorely missed by many.Bill .. you were always a very true friend to me. I wish you well in the garden of angels.

I'm grateful to Mr. Gerstner for teaching my 2 boys in Language Arts and Drama. They will always remember him with smiles. I'll miss his booming voice and his really great ties. My prayers and thoughts are with your family.

Mr Gerstner was an amazing teacher who truly enjoyed what he did and I am blessed to have known him and had a seat in his classroom. He will be greatly missed. Prayers to his family

He was not only my father he was my best friend and role model. He was everything i wanted to be as a person. He was a great teacher and had such a passion for it. Now he's my guardian angel guiding me and watching over me along with my brother. Enjoy walking thoughs streets of gold and singing in the angels choir!

Bill shared many stories and photos of our German ancestry with me and my mother.  I am forever thankful for these memories.  I will miss him.

I have such wonderful loving memories of my cousin Bill. But most of all I will always remember and cherish his smile and tender heart.  I am missing him already. Love and prayers to all he touched.

mr.gerstner was a amazing teacher he taught me acting. i will miss you so much mr gerstner .

Mr. Gerstner was one of my favorite teachers. He was always fun and just an amazing teacher. He gave me skills that will stick with me for a lifetime. He will be missed greatly and always be in our prayers.

We will always remember all the fun we had with Bill at grandma and grandpa's
house. We will miss him.
Our prayers are with his family
Carl Stieglitz and Louise Scott  
New Jersey

Mr. Gerstner was one of my favorite teachers in middle school.  He will be greatly missed by many.  Praying for his family.

A true gentleman, outstanding teacher and a great teacher...He will be missed.

Mr. Gerstner was one of my favorite teachers. He taught me how to embrace my fears and turn them into a talent. I will miss him greatly.

OBITUARY

William Erwin Gerstner

July 3, 1952 – February 16, 2014

Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park

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