Obituary for David Braucht Gerber
David B. Gerber, age 89, died on December 15, 2020 with family by his side. He was born November 4, 1931 in Hancock County, Findlay, Ohio. He was the elder son of Robert M. and Mildred Braucht Gerber. He is survived by his wife, Maxine of 66 years; daughter, Diane J. Thompson of Plainfield, IN; son, David “Scott” (wife, Kathy) of Columbus; and grandchildren, Kyle of Rockville, MD and Lauren of Cincinnati. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, R. Daniel of Ames, Iowa; and son-in-law, Stephen Thompson.
He was a graduate of Liberty Township School (now Liberty-Benton) in 1949, The Ohio State University in 1953, and he received his Masters of Science in Animal Husbandry and Animal Science from OSU in 1961.
He retired as Professor from The Ohio State University in 1995 and he worked in the Cooperative Extension Service for 40 years. He was the first Putnam County 4-H Agent (in 1955); Putnam County Agriculture Agent; first area extension agent in swine (starting in 1965), which included 35 counties in southwest Ohio; and a 12-year advisor to the OSU Saddle & Sirloin Club.
As part of his association with the Saddle & Sirloin Club, he was recognized for his volunteer service to the students with OSU’s Josephine Sitterle Failer Award in 1997. He also received the Saddle & Sirloin Club recognition as “Honorary Member” and “Uncle”. He and his family recently established an OSU scholarship to recognize Saddle & Sirloin Club leaders.
He was inducted into both the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame for service as a Superintendent of the Junior Fair Swine Department and into the Fayette County Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2016.
His work included numerous education projects. He developed the Pork Profits television series with WOSU-TV and WBGU-TV for pork producers and consumers. He also created videos for 4-H club members and their parents on the fitting and showing of pigs, and their care.
The family resided at the Old Springfield Road farm outside of Washington C.H. for 46 years where they primarily raised hogs and also cattle and sheep. The donkeys, Christy and Jack, were entrusted to guard the sheep. Many of these animals were for the family’s 4-H projects. Each summer, he grew cantaloupe by the hundreds and also a wide variety of vegetables from the four-acre garden. This included caring for numerous bee hives to pollenate the crop. David and Maxine also maintained a large orchard of apples, peaches, and cherries. He sold this produce at the farm and at neighborhood markets. He was also a longtime exhibitor at the Ohio State Fair. His many activities were as much about raising crops and animals as they were about having fun, joking, and kidding with others. In addition to the small farm outside Washington Court House, he also managed the family farm that is located near Findlay, Ohio. All trips to Findlay were not complete without a trip to Dietsch Brothers’ ice cream and chocolate shop.
In addition to raising hogs, he was an avid cook and prepared whole hog and pork chop meals for the Ohio State football team, the Ohio State press box, Colorado State football team, and the Columbus Destroyers football team. He also always assisted with the Saddle & Sirloin Club’s food booth at the OSU Farm Science Review.
He was a devoted Ohio State football fan and he attended the 1950 Snow Bowl and numerous bowl games with Maxine.
He traveled extensively for pleasure with Maxine. He also traveled to assist other countries with agricultural projects. His assignments for ACDI/VOCA and Winrock International included: Macedonia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Georgia (Russia), Nepal, Armenia, and Ghana West Africa. He always arranged his flights so that he could travel through London so he could watch the theatre production of Mouse Trap which he saw innumerable times.
He proudly served in the U.S. Army (anti-aircraft artillery). He also participated in the Boy Scouts as a Star Scout (Troop 4 of Findlay) and as a Scoutmaster (Troop 133 of Bloomingburg).
He was also an avid photographer which was helpful to chronicle family camping trips throughout the United States, as well as his trips abroad, and his various work projects.
He was a member of the American Society of Animal Science, American Society of Agriculture Engineering, Alpha Gamma Sigma Agricultural Fraternity, Gamma Sigma Delta Agricultural Honorary, Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension Fraternity, Past President of OSU Alumni Clubs of Putnam and Fayette Counties, Bloomingburg Lodge 449, Washington C.H. Shrine Club, Aladdin Temple of Columbus, and member of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington C.H.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Kirkpatrick-Behnke Funeral Home in Findlay, OH and he is buried at the Benton Ridge Cemetery. A private ceremony was held. A gathering of friends will be organized this summer, or as COVID-19 restrictions permit.
David and Maxine have resided at The Forum in Columbus for the past five years. We would like to thank The Forum for their care and support of our father/husband. Maxine’s address is The Forum at 4590 Knightsbridge Blvd., Columbus, OH 43214.
Prose to be read at Benton Ridge Cemetery as requested by David.
The Only Way to Win
"There is no easy path to glory,
There's no rosy road to fame
Life however we may view it,
Is no simple parlor game;
But its prizes call for fighting,
For endurance and for grit,
For a rugged disposition
And a don't know when to quit."
-- Anonymous