Jerry C. Gerik, Sr.

Jerry C. Gerik, Sr., age 88, of Aquilla, passed away Sunday evening, July 14, 2013 at Hill Regional Hospital in Hillsboro. A rosary will be recited and Mass of Christian Burial celebrated 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Abbott, with Rev. Stephen Nesrsta and Rev. Ouseph Thekkumthala as celebrants. Military Graveside Rites will follow at Fatima Cemetery near Abbott, conducted by the West Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Aderhold Funeral Home. Jerry was born August 1, 1924 in West, the son of Emil J. and Mary (Karlik) Gerik. He attended school in Aquilla and was a 1941 graduate of Aquilla High School. He served his country with the United States Army Air Corp during World War II in the South Pacific Theater as a navigator on a B24 bomber from 1942 to 1945. Upon his discharge he attended Hillsboro College. On February 4, 1948 he was united in marriage to Irene Muehlstein in Abbott. She preceded him in death on December 10, 1999. He then married Martha (Kutach) Sulak on August 19, 2006 in Abbott. Jerry was a farmer and rancher. He operated the Aquilla Cotton Gin for over 30 years before retiring in 1985. He was a longtime faithful member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Abbott, where he served on the parish council, was an Usher and a Eucharistic Minister. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4819, American Legion #478, Abbott Knights of Columbus, and the Abbott K.J.T. Society. Jerry was a former board member of the Texas Cotton Ginner's Association. Jerry is also preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Dennis Gerik and Tim Gerik; a son-in-law, Ernie Janek; and two sisters, Leona Hanzelka and Marcella Geisler. Survivors include his wife, Martha Gerik of Aquilla; three sons, Jerry Gerik Jr. and wife Denise of Aquilla; Ronnie Gerik and wife Marsha of Aquilla, and Jimmy Gerik and wife Martha of Reedley, CA; two daughters, Deborah Janek of Aquilla and Kathy Hill of Ft. Worth; a daughter-in-law, Linda Gerik of Aquilla; brother, Edwin Gerik and wife Dorothy; sisters, Mary Trice, Edith Cernosek, Betty Stanislav and husband Leonard, Lucille Lednicky and husband Jerome, Nancy Stenseth and husband Paul and Margie Goldberg and husband Norm; 14 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Pallbearers are Christopher Janek, Kevin Janek, Jason Janek, John David Janek, John Gerik, Paul Gerik, Josh Gerik, Ronnie Joe Gerik, Jacob Gerik, Zachary Gerik, Daniel Hill and Michael Hill. Honorary pallbearers are Anne Pustejovsky and Sarah Hill. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Aquilla Volunteer Fire Department or the West Volunteer Ambulance Association.