- Date Of Birth: November 12, 1922
- Date Of Death: November 19, 2019
- State: Michigan
Obituary
Philip Albert Gernaat, 97, passed away Tuesday, November 19, 2019. He was born November 12, 1922, in Kalamazoo, MI a son of John and Helen (Steinhouse) Gernaat and had been a lifelong area resident.
Phil was a proud veteran who served his country in the US Navy during WWII. Until his death he was the oldest member of Second Christian Reformed Church; serving as Deacon and Elder. In 1946 he returned from service and started Phil Gernaat and Sons Greenhouse. In 1966 he was a founding member of Kalamazoo Valley Plant Growers serving as board member and grower for many years. In retirement years you would find him in Raymondville, TX . He enjoyed many winters there golfing, dancing and playing the organ for all his snowbird friends. Phil loved to travel, loved people and enjoyed life to the fullest. Later in life he struggled with hearing loss and poor eye sight but his mind remained very sharp. He was able to recall any memory of his past and shared many good times and stories with family and friends.
Phil was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Ella (Sportel) Gernaat in 1967; second wife, Barbara (Klepper) Gernaat in 2016; son, Philip Gernaat; step-son, David Zuidema; and eleven siblings. Surviving are two sons, Stan (Kathy) Gernaat and Allan Gernaat; step-children, Tom Zuidema, Carolyn Whitney and Janice (Jim) Tripp; two grandsons, Jason (Missy) Gernaat and Travis (Becky) Gernaat; several step-grandchildren; great-grandchildren; brother, John Gernaat, Jr., and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Thursday, November 21st from 6 to 8 p.m. at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Burial & Cremation Services, 3926 S 9th St. Kalamazoo, MI 49009. Funeral Services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, November 22nd at Second Christian Reformed Church, 3015 Nichols Rd. Private graveside services will be held in Mount Ever-Rest Memorial Park, South. Memorials may be directed to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or Park Village Pines. To view Philip’s personalized web page, please visit https://www.langelands.com
