Edward G. Gerling Obituary Edward G. Gerling passed away Thursday February 7, 2019 at Cedarcrest Manor. Edward was born on September 21, 1930 to the late Julius and Ida (nee Pruessner) Gerling at their farm near New Haven. A life started on a dairy farm; that one description tells much. There were no tractors on the farm; most work was done by muscle and sweat. The milk cows must be cared for each morning and night. There was no such thing as sleeping in -or taking the day off. Edward quit school at grade 11; to help on the farm; as his three older brothers were serving in the WWII Army. Then the dreaded official visit from the war department notified the family that Edward's oldest brother, Warren was killed fighting in Czechoslovakia, just 5 days before the May 8, 1945 cease fire. This devastating report did not reach the family until after the Germans surrendered! While his brothers Marvin and Alvin finished their military service, Edward worked on the family farm. At some point Edward and his father Julius; dug out the basement from underneath the farm house by hand! Edward served in an engineering company during the Korean War; his use of dynamite on the farm fitting him for using explosives to build roads and the DMZ. Edward's training for this was - you blew up stumps on the farm, go blow up rock. He married Marian Jacob on December 22, 1956; purchasing a farm near New Haven. Daughters Letha and Lila were soon born. Marian was diagnosed with Leukemia in April, 1961; in three short months she passed away on June 30, 1961. Edward was devastated at this loss; he sold his farm, moving with his two little girls to his parent's home, where Grandma Ida cared for them. In time he met Beverly Holland and they were married July 17, 1965 at The Nazarene Church in Union. Soon a son Jonathan was born, and their life centered on family and church. Edward and Beverly were blessed to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with many family and friends July, 2015. At this time Beverly was receiving treatment for cancer, she passed away September 5, 2015. Edward was first a farmer, renting and farming his parent's home farm. He worked many other jobs; lumberyard, road district and electrician, while continuing work on the small farm. Edward was faithful in attendance and service at his home church; Word of Life Nazarene Church. Edward loved listening to gospel music. He continued his parent's practice of reading Our Daily Bread Devotional each evening. It was very humbling to be with Dad and hear him call each child, grandchild and great-grandchild by name in prayer. Edward enjoyed meeting his friends for coffee at Colony House in New Haven. He participated in tractor pulls with his Farmall H tractor; International Harvester being the only tractor brand Dad ever considered owning. He was skilled at hunting morel mushrooms. He enjoyed gardening; ever striving to grow larger melons, sweet potatoes and peaches. He enjoyed filling his Ford Ranger pickup with walnuts, selling them at the Beaufort Feed store. There were always kittens for the grandkids to pet in grandpa's shed. (One of the grandkids said, "Too bad for grandpa there wasn't money in raising cats.") He loved teasing the grandkids; and much to their mother's distress, Grandpa could get them wound up and noisy in a flash! He was a dedicated homemade ice cream maker and eater; diligently teaching his grandkids this skill. He enjoyed pie of all kinds; especially cherry pie. Edward is survived by a sister-in-law, Marian Gerling and cousin MaryAnn Wesselschmidt; Three children; Letha, Lila, Jonathan, and his spouse Terri; Nine Grandchildren; Chester, Tina, Silas, Simon, Crista, Tanya, Heather, Matt and Tim; and Nine Great-Grandchildren; William Tell, Bessie, Evie, Warren, Karl, Alfred, Isaac, Jackson and Truman. Edward is now reunited with his loved ones who have preceded him in death; his parents; Julius and Ida; his three brothers; Warren, Marvin, Alvin; both of his wives; Marian and Beverly; and granddaughter Vickie. They now wait for us to join them. And the angel said to me, 'Write this, Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' Revelation 19:9 Funeral Services was celebrated Saturday at 10:00 am at the Church of the Nazarene in Union, Missouri. Burial followed in the St. Peters Cemetery in New Haven, Missouri. Memorials are requested to the Nazarene Benevolence or Meals on Wheels. The Gerling family was served by the Oltmann Funeral Home in Union, Missouri. To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Edward Gerling, please visit our .