GERDING, Douglas Christopher - b. October 19, 1971 - d. July 10, 2008

[patyrn]

Douglas Christopher Gerding, 36, of rural Elk Falls, Kansas, died July 10, 2008 from injuries receved in an auto accident west of the Elk County and Montgomery County line on U.S. 160.

Mr. Gerding was born on October 19, 1971 at Kettering, Ohio to Edward John and Shirley Ann (Kohls) Gerding.  He graduated from high school in 1990 and joined the United States Coast Guard, serving in Hawaii,  Australia, and Florida. 

After receiving an honorable discharge from the service, Doug attended ITT College at Dayton, Ohio.  Doug married Sandra Wilson in Dayton, Ohio, and to their union a daughter, Jessica Nicole, was bon.  They divorced in 1997. On February 19, 2000, he married Jolie Dian (Morris) Wallace at Wichita, Kansas, and to this union was born a son, Austin Douglas.

Doug was currently employed by Dart Cheokee Basin Pipeline as a senior compressor operator. 

He is survived by his wife, Jolie Gerding, and a son, Austin Gerding, both of the home; a daughter, Jessica Gerding of Chillicothe, Ohio; a stepson, Justin Wallace and a stepdaughte Jalie Wallace, both of the home; his father Edward Gerding and his wife Sue of Boca Raton, Florida; a brother Edward Gerding II of Centerville, Ohio; and two sisers, Deborah Fussnecker of Ohio and Darlene Hamilton of Michigan.

Services will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Zimmerman Funeral Home in Howard, Kansas.  Pastor Robin Haines will officiate.  Bural will be in Longton Cemetery, Longton, Kansas.

Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at the funeral hme.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The Douglas Gerding Memorial Fund has been established at the Bank of Longton for the benefit of his children.  Contributions may be left with the funeral home.

(published in the Winfield Daily Courier 7/14/08)