William Gernert Obituary

Brigadier General William E. Gernert, USAF (Retired) September 20, 2009 General Gernert died peacefully and suddenly Sunday, September 20th, 2009 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was 92. Born in Bowling Green, Ohio, in 1917. His parents were Lillian Forrest and William Henry Gernert. General Gernert graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1938, the U.S. Military Academy in 1942 and Ohio State University (MBA) in 1948. During World War II he commanded a squadron of B-24 Liberators in the Pacific. For the next 25 years he held a variety of command and staff positions in the Air Force, principally in the Nuclear Weapons Program. He was appointed as the Air Force Director of Nuclear Safety and promoted to Brigadier General in 1967. His final assignment was as Deputy Commander, 22nd NORAD Region in North Bay, Canada. His decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Air Medal (5) and Legion of Merit (4). Following his retirement, he moved to Colorado Springs and became an independent commercial real estate appraiser. He had a wide range of interests and enjoyed playing squash, hunting, fishing, golf, antique autos and genealogy. Deeply committed to public service, he was an active member of First Lutheran Church for many years and of the East Side Rotary, where he served as president and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a life member of the Air Force Association and the Order of Daedalians. He is survived by his college sweetheart and wife of 67 years Mary Alice (Hawley) Gernert, from Greenville, Ohio, and three of their children: William E. Gernert III (Jane), Castle Rock Colorado, Debbie Janssen (Carl), Monument, Colorado and Peggy Lane (Skip), Honey Grove, Texas. He was preceded in death by two infant daughters (1943), and a daughter, Mary Beth Emry (Ken) of Monument, Colorado in 2002. He has 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Memorial Services will be held on Monday, September 28th at 9:30 AM at First Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs, with a brief inurnment service following at 11:30 at the Air Force Academy cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in General Gernert's name to the Memorial Fund of First Lutheran Church, 1515 N. Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80907. General Gernert was a remarkable man who personified the "Duty, Honor, Country" motto of the U.S. Military Academy. He will be remembered as a kind, generous, honest, and loving husband and father.