Herbert "Herbie" Gerads

Herbert S. “Herbie” Gerads, age 84 of St. Francis, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Monday, April 3 at the Upsala Senior Living in Upsala, Minnesota.  

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 12 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in St. Francis with Rev. David Grundman officiating.  A family inurnment will be in the parish cemetery at a later date. Military honors will be provided by the Albany American Legion.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in St. Francis. Parish prayers will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday evening at the church.

Herbert Steven Gerads was born July 4, 1938 in Freeport, Minnesota to Charles and Loretta (Harren) Gerads. He entered the U.S. Army in 1963 and was honorable discharged in 1965, serving most of duty in Germany. Herbie farmed and later started his own business installing drain tile for farmers. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in St. Francis. Herbie enjoyed riding snowmobile and motorcycle, and loved playing pool in the pool league in St. Anthony.

Survivors include his brothers and sisters, Magdalen “Toots” Schwanke of St. Cloud, Frank (Doreen) Gerads of Freeport, Loretta (Herbert) Thull of Melrose, Jake (Judy) Gerads of Freeport, Dolores Linn of St. Cloud, Bertha Herdering of Upsala, and Gilbert (Carol) Gerads of Freeport.

Herbert was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Martha Gerads, Sister Marie Gerads, O.S.B., and Elizabeth Bechtold; and brothers, Martin, Jerome, Joseph, Bernard, John, and Norbert Gerads.