Longtime Silverton resident Peter Gerhards died May 3, 2023, after a series of falls in early April. He was just 26 days short of his 95 ^th birthday and looking forward to a planned celebration in his honor.

Peter was born May 29, 1928, on a 20-acre farm near the one-building town of Loring, Kansas. He was the second of eight children of Mathias (Matt) and Margaret (Fritschen) Gerhards. The Great Depression caused the loss of the farm and the family's eventual move to Topeka. In 1944 the family moved to Portland, Oregon, where Peter began eleventh grade at Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1946.

That fall he enlisted in the US Army Air Corp, serving three years at the Pentagon. He married Genevie (Jennie) Dietz on June 19, 1948, at Bolling Field in Washington DC. He left the Air Force in 1949, but after a few months of civilian life and with no money to enter college as he'd hoped, Peter enlisted in the US Army. He remained in the military service until 1970, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Early in his career, he showed a knack for data processing and IBM sorting machines, and an aptitude for numbers, which steered him towards the US Army Finance Corp. Subsequent education in that field earned him a bachelor's degree in finance. Tours of duty took him and his family to many posts across the country. In 1961 – 62 he did a "hardship tour" – without his wife and four sons – in Saigon, South Vietnam. He was among the many non-combatant advisors there during the era. His primary position was advisor to the Vietnamese Military Personal Office. He also taught English to Vietnamese nationals who worked there.

In 1965, this time taking his family with him, he was stationed in Orléans, France, and later in Mannheim, Germany. The family returned to the United States in 1968 to suburban, North Virginia. Once again, he was stationed at the Pentagon. After Army retirement, he worked for two years at the Government Printing Office.

Seeking a less stressful lifestyle, he and son Ross made an exploratory journey to the Willamette Valley in early 1972, where he discovered and fell in love with Silverton. Peter returned to Virginia to guide the family on the westward drive to Silverton, settling into a two-story home on S. third St. Soon he became involved in the life at St. Paul Parish, serving on the Parish Council and as a Eucharistic Minister. He also formed strong relationships with some of the monks at Mt. Angel Abbey, where he worked for a time.

In 1973 Peter and Jennie purchased an old farmhouse on six acres outside the Silverton city limits. He enjoyed country life, raising cows, riding his horses, growing tomatoes and grapes, and making gallons and gallons of wine. Another of his life-long pleasures was golf. He was a frequent player at, and member of the board of directors of the Woodburn Golf Club.

In the mid-2000's, he subdivided his property and contracted for a single-story home. Jennie, his wife of 58 years, died just seven months after moving into the new home in 2006. Over time, Peter was surrounded by a growing neighborhood of new friends, with whom he'd share his tomatoes and good cheer. In September 2021, while making the rounds in the front yard of his no-longer new home, he stumbled on a rock. The fall broke his left hip. After his recovery, he moved to Mt. Angel Towers, where he lived contentedly until he was hospitalized on April 9, 2023. He spent his final days under hospice care at an assisted living facility in Woodburn.

Peter is survived by a sister, Susanna Perletti, and four sons, Paul Gerhards (Robin), Mark Gerhards (Florence), Ross Gerhards (Sue), and John Gerhards (Patty). He leaves behind 16 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

A Final note on Peter's name: From Childhood, he was known within his large and extended family and at school as Paul. But the military insisted he use his first name, so outside the family, he was Pete. When Jennie died, he dropped Paul for good, preferring Pete or Peter from then on.

A Vigil with viewing and recitation of the Rosary will be held Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Unger Funeral Chapel at 229 Mill Street, Silverton, OR 97381.  Viewing will begin at 6:30 pm with recitation of the Rosary at 7:00.

Funeral services for Peter Gerhards will be held Friday, May 26, 2023, at St. Paul Catholic Church, 1410 Pain Street, Silverton, OR 97381. Viewing will begin at 10:30 a.m. a Mass for Peter will be offered at 11:00, with a burial ceremony immediately after. Peter will be buried in nearby St. Paul Cemetery, next to his wife Jennie. A reception with lunch will be held in the parish hall after the ceremonies.

In lieu of flowers, Peter had asked that a Mass be offered in his name, or a donation be made in his name to a Catholic Church of your choice.