Phillip Gerik

Phillip J. “Phil” Gerik, 71, of Waco, formerly of West, passed away peacefully Monday, December 21, 2020 in Waco surrounded by his family after a courageous bout with cancer. Rosary will be recited and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 1:00 p.m. Monday, December 28, 2020 at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with Rev. Ed Karasek as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. Phil will lie-in-state Sunday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Aderhold Funeral Home in West. Very limited capacity, facial masks and social distancing are required at all services. LIVE STREAM of the service will be provided. Mr. Gerik was born October 1, 1949 in Waco, the son of John Lee and JoAnn (Smaistrla) Gerik. He attended St. Mary’s School and graduated from West High School. He received his undergraduate degree in kinesiology from Lamar University and his master’s degree in educational administration and superintendency from East Texas State University in Commerce. Phil worked in education for 48 years. Over this time, he taught and coached at both Mesquite and San Antonio Northside ISDs, was an athletic director and principal at West ISD, and served as the superintendent at Mount Calm ISD. Most recently, he worked with superintendents in McLennan and surrounding counties as a field service agent for Region 12 Education Center in Waco. Phil was a past president of both the Texas Rural Education Association and National Rural Education Association. Phil embodied kindness, warmth, humor and love in everything he did. Anyone who met Phil immediately felt comfortable around him. An extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, brother, educator, and friend, he had a huge heart and took immense pleasure in giving to others. Phil was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, John Lee “Buddy” Gerik Jr; and a nephew, John Lee Gerik III. Survivors include his loving wife of 48 years, Cathy (Neumann) Gerik of Waco; one son, Matthew Gerik and wife, Melissa, of Kennedale; one daughter, Pam De Stefano and husband, James, of Houston; two brothers, Tom Gerik and wife, Carolyn, of Robinson, and Mike Gerik, and wife Cyndi, of McGregor; one sister, Karen Bittner and husband, Vern, of Midlothian; two sisters-in-law, Ruth Gerik, of Arlington and Cheryl Kemper of Franklin, LA; two brothers-in-law, Dr. Tom Neumann, and wife Susan, of Bellingham, WA and Tim Neumann and wife, Roxann, of Houston; two beautiful grandchildren, McKinley and Mason Gerik; and countless other relatives and friends. Pallbearers will be Tyler Angelo, Garrett Bittner, Michael Bittner, Craig Daughtery, Chris Daughtery, Joe Gerik, and Donnie Stiel. Phil’s family is profoundly grateful to the many doctors and nurses who cared for him in a very short time, and we feel blessed by all who joined him on this journey in prayer. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or the Helen Smajstrla Families Need Fund, a fund established to aide struggling families in the West area. Donations for the Need Fund may be sent to P.O. Box 423, West, TX 76691.