Gary D. Gerard, 84, passed away September 7, 2019. Born in Flint, he grew up on a farm near Middleville, Michigan and graduated from Thornapple-Kellogg High School in 1953 where he was an excellent student and an outstanding athlete. Gary then returned to the Flint area to attend General Motors Institute as a toolmaker apprentice to begin his 40-year career in skilled trades with General Motors. During that time, he also served many organizations in a variety of capacities including: United States Naval Reserve reservist for 8 years; Grand Blanc City Council Member for 10 years; Grand Blanc Booster Club officer for several years, and Grand Blanc Township Police Department Reserve officer.
Following retirement from GM in 1993, Gary taught math classes at Mott Community College for 3 years and for the past 25 years pursued his love of fishing, small-game hunting, model building, woodworking, and old cars. His greatest passion, by far, was his family. Married 66 years to the love of his life, Jackie, he lived in Grand Blanc for 62 of those years. In addition to Jackie, Gary is survived by sons Craig (Deb) Gerard and Kevin (Sara) Gerard; granddaughters Amber (Mike) Weidinger and Ashley (Justin) DePree; great-grandchildren Ella and Evan Weidinger and Jack and Mae DePree; sisters Franchon Hoffman and Jolyn (Les) Behrenbrinker, and many nieces and nephews. Gary was preceded in death by his grandparents William and Winnie Brog, mother Ruth Smith, stepfather Bernard Smith, and father Paul Gerard.
Gary was a member of the American Legion so memorial contributions can be made to “Jack Carey Charities-American Legion Post 413”, or contributions can be made to “Ascension Genesys Foundation” in recognition of the hospital staff’s exceptional care of Gary during his three-week stay there.
A celebration of life will be held Sunday, September 15, at the Genesys Banquet and Conference Center in Grand Blanc. Family visitation and fellowship will occur from 3:00 PM until 4:00 PM when the celebration program will begin with dinner. Another family visitation period, concluding at 7:30 PM, will follow the celebration program.
Hill Funeral Home was entrusted with cremation. Please be sure to share a memory of Gary online at hillfh.com.
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