Gerhard Dieterle of Greenwood Lake, and formerly of New York, NY and Neuhausen, Germany, passed away at home on April 4, 2015. He was 84 years old. Born on October 24, 1930 in Stuttgart, Germany, he was the son of Rosa Ernst Dieterle and Rudolf Mayr, and stepson to Frances and Ronald Dieterle. He is survived by his loving wife of 60+ years, Edith C. Merz (Oma/Grandmother)), and son Roy and his wife Margret, and daughter Carol. As Opa (grandfather) he also left behind 5 loving grandchildren; Kyle, Jessica, Matthew, Mikayla and Derek, which he adored with all his heart. Gerhard also leaves behind a sister, Elizabeth Maurer and her husband Nick. He also leaves behind an extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews locally and throughout the United States along with Germany and Canada.
Gerhard served in the US Army during the Korean War, stationed in both Honolulu, HI and Iceland.
While born in Stuttgart, Gerhard was raised in Neuhausen, Germany. Gerhard came to the United States after World War II and became a plumbing apprentice while also attending vocational school for refrigeration. He worked as an Operating Engineer at the Hotel Pierre, before going to Macy’s in the same capacity. He then went to work as Asst. Superintendent and then Superintendent at the New York Hilton, and Lowes Americana (now the Sheraton New York Hotel), respectively. Gerhard then returned to Macy’s as an Operating Engineer, where he later retired in October 2005 after a total of 26 years.
Gerhard relocated his family from New York City in 1969 to Greenwood Lake, NY. Both Roy and Carol and their families remain in the area today, close to Opa and Oma.
He was an active member of the German-American Club in Middletown, NY and Greenwood Llake Senior Citizens. Gerhard was a parishioner of Holy Rosary Church, in Greenwood Lake, NY.
Gerhard will be greatly missed by family, extended family and his many friends.
Visitation will be on Thursday April 9th, from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Lazear-Smith & Vander Platt Memorial Home, located at 17 Oakland Avenue, Warwick, NY. A Funeral Mass to celebrate Gerhard’s life will be at 10:00 AM on Friday April 10th, at Holy Rosary Church, located at 41 Windermere Avenue, Greenwood Lake, NY. Burial will follow at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, NJ.
Memorial donations may be made to Warwick Valley Humane Society, PO Box 61, Warwick, NY 10990 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.