She is survived by her sons, Robert (special friend Vera Plieman) Gerling of Versailles and Denis & Lynn Gerling of Versailles; daughter Marilyn Barge of Versailles and Doris Kovacs of Beavercreek, OH; 11 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, Albert J. Gerling whom she married on Nov. 25, 1937; sisters, Ruth Marchal, Catherine Angle and Joan Blakeley; brothers, Orville “Jack”, Curtis, Joseph and John Baltes; daughter in law, Rita Gerling; and son in law, Bill Kovacs.
Juanita was a member of St. Denis Catholic Church, sang in the choir for 50 years at St. Denis and Holy Family, Darke County Art Association, Darke County Retired Teachers Association, Ohio Retired Teachers Association, Darke County Genealogical Society, Shelby County Genealogical Society and Versailles Area Historical Society. She enjoyed painting, Genealogy, crocheting, quilting and writing poetry. She was a fantastic mother, grandmother and will be missed by all. She attended the University of Dayton and graduated from Miami University. She retired from Versailles Exempted School District after 24 years of service.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 10:30 AM at St. Denis Catholic Church, Versailles, Ohio, with Rev. Fr. Jim Simons celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Valbert Cemetery, Versailles, Ohio. Family will receive friends on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 from 4-7 PM at Bailey Zechar Funeral Home, Versailles, Ohio.
It is the wishes of the family that memorial contributions be given to State of the Heart Hospice or Versailles Area Historical Society. Condolences for the family may be expressed through www.zecharbailey.com
