Harry Beneo Gerlach

Harry Beneo Gerlach, born to Otto Karl Gerlach and Emilie Ottilie (Weiss) Gerlach in Elbing, Ostprussia on November 29, 1928, returned to his Heavenly Father on April 1, 2022, to a grand reunion with his wife, son, parents, brothers, and sister.

Harry arrived in the United States as a one-year-old with his mother and two siblings, where his father was waiting for them in Rochester, New York.  He attended school in Rochester where two additional siblings were born.  After high school, Harry joined the Air Force where he worked for six years as an electronics technician (and trainer) for B-12 bombers and other aircraft.  He enjoyed being on an Air Force baseball team that traveled to other bases for competitions.

While stationed in Denver, Colorado, he met the love of his life, Thea Ingeborg Schindler, at a church young adult social.  They were married in Denver, then sealed a short time later in the Salt Lake Temple.  Their first son, Ben, was born in Denver before a transfer to San Antonio, Texas, where their second child, Gail, was born.  When Harry left the Air Force, the family moved to Utah where Tricia, Richard, Valarie, and Russel were born.

Harry and Thea lived initially in the Rose Park area of Salt Lake City. In the late 1950s, they built a home in the Val Verda area of Bountiful. The home and yard were later affectionately dubbed Gerlach Park by family and friends.  The home became a center of activity for the busy neighborhood of young families.  Thea and Harry moved their children to California for a few years during the 1960’s but returned to Gerlach Park where all felt they belonged.

Harry was a sales representative for companies such as Swift Instruments and VirTis Environmental.  He later formed his own company, the H.B. Gerlach Co., selling scientific equipment.

Harry was a dedicated father, and his children were everything to him. He was active in church, community, and politics. He was elected to serve as Davis County Commissioner for several terms, and he enjoyed it immensely. He loved teaching Gospel classes, singing in ward choirs, and was a faithful home teacher.  Harry enjoyed participating in community theater as an actor and singer.  He was also a semi-professional magician, regularly entertaining family and friends.  Holding family reunions in “Gerlach Park” almost always included magic shows and “illegal” fireworks.   He served faithfully as a guide in the LDS Conference Center, and as a temple worker in the Bountiful Temple. He waited out the pandemic in order to attend the temple three weeks before his death.

Harry’s greatest challenge was working to overcome balance and speech issues brought on by Lewy Body Dementia. He was always positive and was working hard to regain his youthful energy. The family would like to thank the amazing staff of Creekside Senior Living for their fine care and compassion in his last months.

Harry was preceded in death by his wife (Thea), son (Ben), son-in-law (Ian Sampson), three grandchildren, parents, and siblings Elfrieda, Fred (Horst), Henry (Hank), and possibly Ernie.  He is survived by Gail Sampson, Tricia Lindorff, Richard (Trish) Gerlach, Valarie (Mark) Jolly, Russel (Karen) Gerlach, and daughter-in-law Vicki Gerlach (Ben’s wife); 19 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren and possibly Ernie.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 7, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Pages Lane Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1476 North 300 West, Bountiful, Utah 84010 where a viewing will be held Thursday morning from 9:45-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.