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Michael J. Gerber, 78, passed away on Sept. 5, 2023, at the home he loved, surrounded by people who loved him.
Mike leaves behind his wife of 33 years, Jean Rogers Gerber; his son, Ryan Gerber; grandsons, Estyn, Andyn, and Obryn; mother, Clara Gerber; six siblings; mother-in-law, Gloria Rogers; and many other family and friends. He was predeceased by his father, Ambrose Gerber; and five siblings.
Mike was a man who brightened every room. He had an easy laugh, a twinkle in his eyes, and the best Elvis impersonation in Centre County.
He smiled when he listened and when he talked. He relished telling a story-any story-to any audience. His beloved grandkids and a pack of lucky nieces and nephews got rollicking bedtime tales that began on the high seas and ended with ominous lines like, "and that's why the old man walked with a limp."
Mike could work any social gathering, Irish pub or bus full of fellow tourists, but he did his best storytelling standing in the kitchen of his cabin, where he had room to do re-enactments, while still in reach of the fancy nut mix.
Born on Dec. 14, 1944, the sixth of twelve children, Mike was always up for adventure. He loved talking about his first job, delivering newspapers, and his summer job during his college years working as a "gandy dancer" for the railroads.
He took an early interest in politics and world affairs, and at age 18 hitchhiked from his hometown of Williamsport to Washington, D.C. to attend Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
He joined the Army Reserves, road tripped across the U.S., traveled to Europe, Ireland, Greece, and China with Jean; and spent a month hiking through the Himalayas with Ryan. When he returned from that trip, he took up meditating, which often looked identical to taking a nap. But no, Mike assured us, that was "all part of the technique."
Endlessly curious, Mike loved few things more than learning something new. He was an avid reader and a lover of history, geography, the sciences, and sports. He loved pickleball, and had a ferocious golf swing.
Anything that needed fixing, Mike could figure it out. He learned carpentry to refurbish a historic Victorian home he and Jean owned in Bellefonte, then built a beautiful guest cottage from scratch.
After retiring as Director of Accounting Operations from Penn State, he returned as a student to earn a degree in nutrition. He dabbled in painting and writing, installed solar panels in his yard, grew his own vegetables, and drove a hybrid car before it was cool.
Mike spent his 78 years well, delighted by life, interested in people, and optimistic about what we were all capable of.
He'll be remembered as a beloved son, a proud father and "pappy," a loving husband, the most fun uncle, a great brother, a loyal friend, and a very good guy we were all so lucky to love. And he'll be dearly missed by all of us, and any dog who had the good sense to sit by him at the table.
Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of life to be held on Sunday, Sept. 24, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Nittany Country Club in Mingoville, PA, with the formal program beginning at 2:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to St. John School, 116 E. Bishop Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823 or Centre Care Volunteers, 250 Persia Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823.