Lizzie Kunde
Paul Newton Gerhardt Obituary
After graduation from Pipestone, he managed a convenience store in Readlyn, Iowa, where he met his wife, Marnita. After their wedding he was transferred to another convenience store in Shell Rock, Iowa, and became a volunteer firefighter with the Shell Rock Fire Department. While living in Shell Rock the couple celebrated the birth of their son Aaron on Nov. 7, 1986.
Paul enlisted in the Air Force on Jan. 20, 1988, and completed basic training and the Security Specialist Technical Training Course at Lackland Air Force Base, Tex. He went on to enjoy assignments in the 92nd and 858th Missile Security Squadrons (SAC), Minot AFB, N.D.; the 91st Operations Support Sq (AFSPC), Minot, N.D.; 604th Munitions Support Sq (USAFE), Noevenich AB, Germany; the 568th Security Police Flight (USAFE), Ramstein AB, Germany; the 568th Sq (AFSPC), Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; and the 341st Missile Security Sq (AFSPC), Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; before arriving at his most recent assignment in the 95th Security Forces Squadron, Edwards AFB, California, in March of 2005.
While assigned to the 95 SFS, Sergeant Gerhardt performed duties as Flight Sergeant, deployed to Bagram as personnel Squad Leader, Additional Duty First Sergeant, and his recent assignment as NCOIC, Regional Confinement Facility. He won such honors as the 857 SPG Outstanding SF 1st Term Amn of the Year in 1989, 568 SPS and 86 SPS NCO of the Qtr. in 1997, 86 FSF Staff NCO of the Year in 1998 and Qtr. in 1999, 341st Missile Security Squadron Sq SNCO of the Qtr. and of the Year in 2003, 95 SFS SNCO of the Qtr. in 2006, and 95 MBG SNCO of the Qtr. in 2006. Promotion dates: A1C: 1988; SrA: 1989; Sgt.: 1990; SSgt.: 1990; TSgt.: 1997; and MSgt.: 2002. His military decorations include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal with a bronze star. He was a graduate of the Non-Commissioned Officers Preparatory Course, Security Forces Seven Level School, Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, and the Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Academy by correspondence.
Paul and his family spent frequent holidays with his grandparents. He was an accomplished bowler and loved to spend time with his friends and family. He considered his wife and son his best friends. He also had a strong hunger to always learn accompanied by a strong sense of duty and honor. He was selfless and never passed up an opportunity to lend a hand to anyone be they friend or stranger. Twice during his military career he removed his name from consideration for promotion so that someone else could have an opportunity to advance.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Vanessa (1968); grandmother, Nora Gerhardt; maternal grandparents, Ken and Dell Clapham; and his father Dale (2005).
He is survived by his wife, Marnita; son, Aaron; brother, Don (Ginny) of Wausau, Wis.; uncle, Glen Gerhardt (Patricia) of Bloomington; grandfather and step-grandmother, Don and Gladys Gerhardt of Hoffman. Other survivors include cousins: Jacquelyn Gerhardt, New York City, Bobbi Galush (nee Gerhardt), Minneapolis, Sean and Amy Goettsche, Burnsville, Brenna Goettsche, California, Shannon Goettsche, Bloomington; nephew and nieces: Nick Summers, Milwaukee, Shannah Kruse, Wausau, Wis., and Katelyn Gerhardt, Madison, Wis.
Arrangements were with the Erickson-Smith Funeral Home in Hoffman.
Partial Obituary: Fergus Falls Daily Journal - August 17, 2006
Paul enlisted in the Air Force on Jan. 20, 1988, and completed basic training and the Security Specialist Technical Training Course at Lackland Air Force Base, Tex. He went on to enjoy assignments in the 92nd and 858th Missile Security Squadrons (SAC), Minot AFB, N.D.; the 91st Operations Support Sq (AFSPC), Minot, N.D.; 604th Munitions Support Sq (USAFE), Noevenich AB, Germany; the 568th Security Police Flight (USAFE), Ramstein AB, Germany; the 568th Sq (AFSPC), Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; and the 341st Missile Security Sq (AFSPC), Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; before arriving at his most recent assignment in the 95th Security Forces Squadron, Edwards AFB, California, in March of 2005.
While assigned to the 95 SFS, Sergeant Gerhardt performed duties as Flight Sergeant, deployed to Bagram as personnel Squad Leader, Additional Duty First Sergeant, and his recent assignment as NCOIC, Regional Confinement Facility. He won such honors as the 857 SPG Outstanding SF 1st Term Amn of the Year in 1989, 568 SPS and 86 SPS NCO of the Qtr. in 1997, 86 FSF Staff NCO of the Year in 1998 and Qtr. in 1999, 341st Missile Security Squadron Sq SNCO of the Qtr. and of the Year in 2003, 95 SFS SNCO of the Qtr. in 2006, and 95 MBG SNCO of the Qtr. in 2006. Promotion dates: A1C: 1988; SrA: 1989; Sgt.: 1990; SSgt.: 1990; TSgt.: 1997; and MSgt.: 2002. His military decorations include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal with a bronze star. He was a graduate of the Non-Commissioned Officers Preparatory Course, Security Forces Seven Level School, Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, and the Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Academy by correspondence.
Paul and his family spent frequent holidays with his grandparents. He was an accomplished bowler and loved to spend time with his friends and family. He considered his wife and son his best friends. He also had a strong hunger to always learn accompanied by a strong sense of duty and honor. He was selfless and never passed up an opportunity to lend a hand to anyone be they friend or stranger. Twice during his military career he removed his name from consideration for promotion so that someone else could have an opportunity to advance.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Vanessa (1968); grandmother, Nora Gerhardt; maternal grandparents, Ken and Dell Clapham; and his father Dale (2005).
He is survived by his wife, Marnita; son, Aaron; brother, Don (Ginny) of Wausau, Wis.; uncle, Glen Gerhardt (Patricia) of Bloomington; grandfather and step-grandmother, Don and Gladys Gerhardt of Hoffman. Other survivors include cousins: Jacquelyn Gerhardt, New York City, Bobbi Galush (nee Gerhardt), Minneapolis, Sean and Amy Goettsche, Burnsville, Brenna Goettsche, California, Shannon Goettsche, Bloomington; nephew and nieces: Nick Summers, Milwaukee, Shannah Kruse, Wausau, Wis., and Katelyn Gerhardt, Madison, Wis.
Arrangements were with the Erickson-Smith Funeral Home in Hoffman.
Partial Obituary: Fergus Falls Daily Journal - August 17, 2006
