Clyde Gerhard M.D.
Clyde Gerhard M.D.

Obituary of Clyde Gerhard M.D.

Boise, Idaho – Clyde Gerhard, 85 passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family after battling colon cancer.  Dad dearly loved the Lord and was devoted to his Catholic faith.  He was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin, the son of Clarence Frank Gerhard and Ida Jacqueline (Poston) Gerhard.    In 1954, while attending Rufus King High School in Milwaukee, he met a young woman, June Hillier, who became his high school sweetheart.  They were married on February 2, 1957 (Groundhogs Day) and they have been celebrating their anniversary every day since for 64 years! 

Dad graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1961, where he obtained his medical degree and joined the Army as a First Lieutenant.  Dad completed his internship in 1962 at Brooke General Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, pre-surgical training at Fort Benning Army Hospital, Columbus, Georgia in 1963, and his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1966, again back at Brooke General Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.  Somewhere during this time and all the moving, Dad and Mom managed to have 5 children in 6 years.  I guess Dad’s chosen field required practice!

In 1966 the Army moved the family overseas to Vicenza, Italy for three years where dad was Chief of OBGYN, US Armed Forces.  In 1969 it was off to El Paso, Texas for two years where Dad was on the Residency Teaching Staff at William Beaumont General Hospital. In 1971 he was Honorably Discharged from the military as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Dad and Mom loaded up the station wagon in 1971 and moved to Boise, ID where Dad entered private practice, joining the OB-GYN Center, formally the Fort Street OB-GYN Center.  Dad joined original partners Dr. Max Gudmundsen and Dr. Harold Hulme, and later they were joined by Doctors Dennis Carter, Leslie Glenn Pool, Alan Swajkoski, and Dirk Carlson.  Dad and his right-hand nurse, Elaine Myers, brought a lot of life into this world, delivering over 3000 babies until Dad retired in 2001.

Dad’s favorite times were spent fishing, hunting, gardening, spending time at their cabin at Warm Lake, and fishing, oh, and did I mention he liked to fish?  Dad so enjoyed spending time with his best fishing buddy, Jim Wilson, trying to catch just one more Kokanee!  Never the one to call it quits, Dad always thought just one more hour and they were going to start biting.

No matter what hat he wore, and he wore many, our father wore them all fittingly.  We are all better people for having him as a husband, father, friend, mentor, and confidant.  Over the years, we all came to realize the strength, passion, dedication, faith and love this gentle man had for his family, friends and life.  His life was full, and he gladly shared his love and wisdom with us all.

Dad was proceeded in death by his three siblings, Roy, Corinne and Gary.  Dad is survived by his wife June,  children Jeffrey (Marilyn) and Michael (Sally) Gerhard, Linda (Phil) Stephenson, Kimberly (Earl) Votolato and Amy (Cory) Leinberger, as well as his 15 grandchildren, Travis Gerhard, Nichole Condon, Jason Gerhard, Amory Sue Smith, Emily Peterson, Hattie Scott, Rebecca Cremer, Thomas, Carson & Walker Leinberger, Reagan Waskoviak, Lauren Stephenson Brown, Dylan Stephenson, and Hunter and Hayley Votolato and 19 great grandchildren, sisters-in-laws Nancy Gerhard of Boise, Mary Ellen Kraft and Marsha Uecke Hillier of Wisconsin as well as many nieces and nephews.

 

A mass with Military Honors will be held at Holy Apostle Catholic Church, 6300 N. Meridian Rd, Meridian, ID., on Saturday August 14th at 11:00 am.  A Rosary will be prayed prior to the mass at 10:00 am, all are welcome. We ask everyone to join the family for a reception in the church dining room following the service.  A private comital service for family members will be held at a later date.   In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Clyde’s name to Bishop Kelly High School, Right to Life, or a charity of your choice.

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Saturday
14
August

Recitation of the Rosary

10:00 am - 10:30 am
Saturday, August 14, 2021
Holy Apostles Catholic Church
6300 N. Meridian Rd.
Meridian, Idaho, United States
Saturday
14
August

Mass of Christian Burial

11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday, August 14, 2021
Holy Apostles Catholic Church
6300 N. Meridian Rd.
Meridian, Idaho, United States
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Clyde