Gerald D. Kallenbach

He was born on Feb. 17, 1939, in Niagara, to the late Howard and Elizabeth (Chartier) Kallenbach in the same house in which he now resides.

He graduated from Niagara High School, Class of 1957. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church. He served for nine years on the city council in Niagara. He was a longtime member of the Lions Club, during which he served as zone chairman and region chairman. He served as the district membership chairman for 14 years. The old Niagara rescue squad was named in his honor. He enjoyed playing smear with friends at camp in Florence.

As most of you know, Dad had a medical event just over a year ago that sent him from the hospital to the nursing home. He’s had a lot of challenges in this last year but kept a glimmer of his humor right up until the end.

Through his 86 years, Dad spent his life in service to everyone around him — always the first to lend a hand to help his community, his friends and his family. His last great service was in taking care of Mom at home for the last several years as well as in the nursing home through this past year. His devotion to her through their 63 years together was unwavering. Always quick of wit and full of stories of his misspent youth, he will be missed by all of the lives he has touched. Unfortunately, we cannot fulfill his lifelong wish to be “rendered down” in his backyard firepit while everyone drinks whiskey and plays banjo music so instead, we will be arranging a memorial.

We are deeply saddened by his passing but happy he is finally at peace and probably walking in the woods somewhere, fishing in a boat on a quiet lake, or sitting around a campfire with a glass of Canadian Mist. We’ll miss you, Dad.

He is survived by his wife, Kathryn Kallenbach; daughters Sandra (Don) Glaser and Suzanne (Mark) Miller; brothers Patrick (Connie) Kallenbach, and Terrence (Leslie) Kallenbach; sister Sharon Tappy; four grandchildren, Ryan (Amber) Marshall, Neil (Kim) Marshall, Emilee (Ryan) Treuthardt, and Katerina (Garrett) McDonald; three great-grandchildren, Lincoln Marshall, Olive Marshall, and Layla Marshall; and sister-in-law Jean Kallenbach.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Melvin Kallenbach.

A Gathering of Remembrance in Gerald’s honor will be held from 2 until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, at Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron Mountain.

Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Gerald’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.

The family has chosen Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Iron Mountain, to honor Gerald’s legacy of life.