Eldean Gerloff December 21, 1933 ~ March 16, 2010
		Draucker Funeral Home 700 N. Spruce Street Post Office Box 296 Ogallala, NE 69153 Ph:  308.284.4021

 OBITUARY

 
Eldean Gerloff, 76, of Ogallala, died at his home March 16, 2010.

Eldean was born December 21, 1933 in Omaha, NE. His parents, Simon and Elizabeth Bangert Gerloff, adopted him at
six months of age. Until the age of 12, Eldean lived on a farm between Ayr and Blue Hill, NE. The family then moved to Grant, NE where he graduated from high school in 1951.

In 1953 Eldean enlisted in the Army and worked with the NIKE AJAX mission located in White Sands, NM and was honorably discharged in 1956. On October 21, 1956 Eldean married Marlynn Huff at the Methodist Church in Ogallala.

In 1957 he began his college education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in 1960. Eldean pursued onward and was awarded a Masters Degree in Biochemistry in 1963 and a Doctorate Degree in 1965, both from the University of Wisconsin. The same year Eldean began his career in the United States Department of Agriculture as a Research Scientist for the Northern Grain Insects Research Laboratory in Brookings, SD and was elected the National Director in South Dakota by the Jaycees in 1967. Five years later he became the Laboratory Director in South Dakota. Eldean advanced in 1980 to work as the Associate Area Director for the Lake States Area in West Lafayette, IN. In 1984 Eldean became the Associate Area Director for the Northern Plains located in Fort Collins, CO. In 1991 he became the Associate Area Director for the Midwest Area located in Peoria, IL. Eldean retired in 1996 from the Senior Executive Service in the United States Department of Agriculture.

Eldean became the project leader who wrote the final requirements and obtained US Congressional funds for an insect rearing facility in South Dakota. As a member of the National Plant Germplasm Committee, Eldean was a project leader for the 11 million dollar expansion of the National Seed Storage Laboratory in Fort Collins, CO. This facility is now known as the National Center for Genetic Preservation Research. This building was built to preserve our plants and to sustain any threats.

He was a member of St. Pauls Lutheran Church and the Ogallala Rotary Club. His hobbies included camping and hunting in the Colorado mountains. Eldean and Marlynn moved back to their home state of Nebraska in 2002. Eldean's philosophy of life was "Trust in God. Maintain your balance...and keep Pedaling."

Survivors include his wife Marlynn Gerloff of Ogallala. Three daughters: Diane Johnson of Loveland, CO., Sheryl and her husband Richard Marshall of Frisco, TX., and Kathy Gerloff of Ogallala. Four Grandchildren: Ashley, Tyler, Jordan, and Jacob and great-grandchild Jacen.

Visitation will be Friday, March 19, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Draucker Funeral Home.

A Funeral Service will be Saturday, March 20, at 10 a.m. in St. Pauls Lutheran Church with Rev. Robert Pierce officiating.

Interment in the Ogallala Cemetery with military honors by the Keith County Veterans Organizations. Memorials have been established to St. Pauls Lutheran Church and to the American Diabetes Association.

Online Condolences may be sent by clicking here.

Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.