Submitted by: Dan Rich
Aug. 13, 1889 – June 4, 1957
MISHAWAKA – J. Louis Gerstbauer,
67, of 1201 Lincoln Way West, prominent business and civic leader
for many years died at 9 a.m. Tuesday in St. Joseph Hospital,
South Bend. He had been ill for two months. Mr. Gerstbauer, who
served as president of the Board of Public Works for the city of
Mishawaka for four years was born in this city and had always
lived here.
He married Miss Theckla Schellinger,
July 8, 1913 in St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was a cashier in
the North Side Branch of the First National Bank for 18 years and
then joined the Christianson and Philion Furniture Co. and a
partner for two years. He then became president of the Gerstbauer
Furniture Store, which he operated for 20 years.
Mr. Gertsbauer was director of the Works
Progress Administration and the Federal Housing Administration
and during World War II he was in charge of the ration board and
headed both the South Bend and Anderson, Ind. federal rent
control agencies.
Surviving are his widow; five sons, Rev.
James Gerstbauer of Fort Wayne, Fabian L. and Richard Gerstbauer
of South Bend, and Joseph and Albert Gerstbauer of this city;
four daughters, Mrs. Mildred Shamo of LaPorte, Mrs.
Colette Hornung of Royal Oak, Mich., Mrs. Angelea Cressy
and Mrs. Regina MaManus of South Bend; a brother James Leo
Gerstbauer and 33 grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Thallemer-Goethals
Chapel after 6 p.m. today and until the funeral at 11 a.m. Friday
in St. Joseph Catholic Church. Very. Rev. Msgr. Curt A. Suetzer,
pastor, will officiate and Rev. James Gerstbauer will celebrate
the Mass. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. He was a member
of the St. Joseph Holy Name Society and the Third Order of St.
Francis and had been a lifetime trustee of St. Joseph Church for
32 years.