Leonard Eugene Gerhardt

Leonard Eugene Gerhardt, 97, of Traverse City, passed away Friday, April 4, 2025. Leonard was born on April 7, 1927, to the late Leonard Harry & Eulallia Margaret (Cosgrove) Gerhardt in Port Angeles, Washington. Leonard spent his youth in Aberdeen, Washington, and later graduated from Aberdeen High School. Like so many of his generation, Len enlisted into the Army toward the end of WW II – right out of high school. After basic training, he volunteered for paratrooper training and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, serving in the Occupational Forces in Germany after the war ended. After serving in the Army, he joined the US Coast Guard – which took him to many places worldwide, with three daughters and his wife in tow. Leonard retired from the USCG after 22 years serving as a Chief Parachute Rigger, Coast Guard SAR (Search and Rescue) crewman on the Aircraft HU-16E Albatross, and loadmaster on C130 aircraft. After retiring from the military, Len enjoyed 15 years working very successfully in the Real Estate business with his wife, Phyllis, as a Real Estate broker, eventually opening their own business, Gerhardt Real Estate. Len married the love of his life, Phyllis A. (Pelky) Gerhardt in Traverse City on November 10, 1951, at First Congregational Church. They were married 63 years before her passing in 2014. Leonard was a wonderful husband and a loving father of three girls, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. “St. Leonard”, as he was affectionally known, will be missed by his loving family, who take great pride in knowing that through his welcoming and friendly spirit, he has touched many lives over his 97 years. Leonard was friendly, patient, gregarious, and enjoyed laughing. He especially enjoyed family gatherings as he would spend time with multiple generations of kids (to Len, everyone else was ‘a kid’). Len also enjoyed all types of sports, actively playing golf with local friends for decades and watching the Tigers, Lions, UM, MSU, and any golf tournament on TV. In his later years, Len and his fur baby, Millie, enjoyed their daily walk, where Leonard would make his rounds and was sure to greet every dog and their accompanying owners along the way. It was an open secret around Port of Old Mission that Len had dog treats for every four-legged friend in the neighborhood! Preceding him in death, his wife, Phyllis Ann Gerhardt (Pelky); his parents, Leonard & Eulallia Gerhardt; his brother Louis Gerhardt; Sister and Brother-in-Law, Sharon and Ron Moore; Son-in-Law Jack Follett; and his daughter, Suzanne Lesley Gerhardt. Leonard is survived by his children, Grace A. (Michael) Callahan and Nancy G. (Jack) Follett, and his Grandchildren, Jackie Rindlisbacher, Lisa (John) Pfeiffenberger, Jamie Callahan, and Jennifer (Dustin) Callahan-Smith. He also has ten Great-Grandchildren and twelve Great-Great-Grandchildren. A funeral service will be held at Immaculate Conception Church in Traverse City on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 11AM. There will be a visitation at 10AM at the Church, followed by the funeral, and then a luncheon at noon in the Church’s Centennial Hall immediately after the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Cherryland Humane Society.

Leonard Eugene Gerhardt

April 7, 1927 - April 4, 2025