Louise Gerlach

Louise A. Gerlach, 98, of Fairfield Bay, Ark., formerly of Silvis, passed away Thursday, June 19, 2014, at Indian Rock Village. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Schroder Mortuary in Silvis. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the mortuary. Burial will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens in East Moline. The former Louise Anne Rabe was born on Oct. 27, 1915, to William and Mary Rabe in Willisville, Ill. She was the second youngest of nine children. She married Ernest Gerlach on Oct. 5, 1940. Ernest died on July 14, 1992. She was a longtime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where she enjoyed teaching Sunday Bible school. She was fond of all of her many grand and great-grandchildren and was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her three brothers, Henry, William and Harold; her five sisters, Marie, Lorine, Edna, Carrie and Helen; and her son-in-law, Lonnie Thomas. Surviving are her sons, Ernie L. (Geri) Gerlach, Hattiesburg, Miss., Mark (Marty) Gerlach, Sherrard; and daughter, Joy Thomas, Fairfield Bay, Ark.; her 18 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.