Douglas Rolland Gerber

Douglas R. Gerber, 88, a lifelong resident of the Lake Geneva area died on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at Lakeland Health Care Center in Elkhorn, WI

He was born on February 24, 1928 to the late Ernest and Jeanette (Vorpagel) Gerber in Lake Geneva.  Doug graduated from Lake Geneva High School, class of 1946.  He was a three sport athlete and won 11 varsity letters (4 in football, 4 in basketball, and 3 in baseball).  He was first team All-State in football as a senior.  He played on the South All-Star Team at Camp Randall Stadium in the high school All-Star game on August 24, 1946.

He attended Marquette University for one semester in 1946 and then joined the Air Force and served for 3 years.  He was stationed in Guam during the Korean conflict.

After completing his service commitment, he completed his college education at UW LaCrosse where he graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education.  He competed for UW LaCrosse in football and played in the Cigar Bowl in Tampa, FL on January 1, 1954.

On August 15, 1952, he married Gwen Watson.  He took his first teaching/coaching job at Waterloo High School in Waterloo, Wisconsin in the fall of 1956.  He taught there for one year and then moved to Lake Geneva when a position opened at his old high school.  Lake Geneva High School closed one year later and he moved with the students and staff to the new school, Badger High School in the fall of 1958.  He was the head football coach for a decade and served as head track coach for nine years.  He was the head golf coach from 1973-1988.  He served as Athletic Director at Badger until he retired in 1988.

He earned his Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1966 in Physical Education and Athletic Administration.  He was named Athletic Director of the Year for District VI of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association in 1983.

Doug and Gwen were avid supporters of Badger High School athletics, UW Whitewater football, and the Wisconsin Badgers.  He was a member of the Lake Geneva Lions Club, enjoyed many rounds of golf with lifelong friends at Hillmoor Country Club.  He was a very active member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Lake Geneva. 

Doug is survived by four children:  Greg (Dorothy) Gerber of Williams Bay, WI; Steve Gerber of Burlington, WI; Tom (Pam) Gerber of Marana, AZ; and Luanne (Jean) Elie of Pembroke Pines, FL.  Doug is also survived by 9 grandchildren: Patrick Gerber, Christopher Gerber, Jonathan (Sarah) Frankel, Bryan Gerber, Tim Gerber, Eric Gerber, Joey (Bret) Liebmann, Paul (Hillary) Gerber, and Haley Gerber and 5 great grandchildren: Paige Gerber, Ashton Frankel, Harper, Sloane, and Finn Liebmann.

Doug was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Gwen, on January 17, 2016 and brothers Glydwell and Clifford Gerber.

Visitation will be held on February 25, 2017 from the hours of 12noon until 2:00 PM in the chapel of Derrick Funeral Home in Lake Geneva.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family has asked that you make a donation in Doug’s name to Aurora At Home Hospice or Lakeland Health Care Center (nursing home).

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