- Date Of Birth: November 17, 1921
- Date Of Death: June 16, 2007
- State: Illinois
Paul A. Gerding, 85, of Ottawa, Illinois and Naples, Florida, died Saturday night at his home in Ottawa. Carl T. and Margaret (Bretag) Gerding. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Engineering, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was a Captain with the Army Corps of Engineers during WWII, serving in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He married Patricia Geschwind Kubis on May 19, 1956. Mr. Gerding began his career as a mechanical engineer for Ottawa Silica Company rising to the level of Vice-President of Operations.
He later purchased Bellrose Sand Company in Utica and renamed it Bellrose Silica Company. He served as President of Bellrose Silica for 20 years until the operation was sold to Unimin Corporation. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He was a past-chairman and long-time member of the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Ottawa. Mr. Gerding co-chaired with Andrew J. O’Conor the committee to raise funds for the construction of Community Hospital of Ottawa. He served on the Hospital Board of Governors for 21 years. He also served on the Mental Health Board, the Campfire Board, the Ottawa Township High School Board of Education, the YMCA Board of Trustees, and the Scouting Museum Board. He was a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers and Illinois Society of Professional Engineers.
He was involved with the Ottawa Jaycees Allen Park development. He received the Jaycees Citizen of the Year Award in 1968. He was a member of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, and headed a Blue Ribbon Committee which was established to alleviate the flooding problems at OTHS. In 2004 he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Illinois. He was a member of the Ottawa Boat Club, the Naples Yacht Club and the Port Royal Club of Naples, Florida.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia, one daughter, Barbara (Richard) Warsinskey, of Lakewood, Ohio, two sons, Paul A., Jr. (Lynne) of Geneva, Illinois, and Richard, of Ottawa, four grandchildren, Laura and David Warsinskey, and Elizabeth and Allison Gerding, and one brother Earl, of Ottawa. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Constance Smith, and a brother Carl H. Gerding.
