1918
Leonard
2017
Leonard Arthur Gerner
July 12, 1918 — June 18, 2017
Funeral Services for Leonard Arthur (Coach) Gerner, age 98,of Bonham, TX will be held on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at 2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church in Bonham, Texas, under the direction of Wise Funeral Home. Military honors will follow at graveside at Willow Wild Cemetery in Bonham. Officiating will be Rev. Dana Coker, Rev. Louis Holmes Sr., and Bro. Ralph Brown.
Leonard passed away on June 18, 2017. He is now in that place his Lord Jesus said he'd prepare for him. He is with his wife, Marie, whom he loved dearly. Standing in the presence of our Almighty God who loved us and gave Himself for us all. May glory and majesty and honor be given to our Lord Jesus forever more.
He was born July 12, 1918 in Crete, Nebraska to James "Jim" Thomas Gerner and Albie Olga Kulhanek. Leonard was a graduate of Crete, High School, Crete Nebraska and Doane College with a degree in Liberal Arts. He later attended the East Texas State University in Commerce where he received his Masters Degree in Education. He was a US Army/Air Force Veteran of World War II. He served as a flight instructor at Jones Field Airport in Bonham, Texas while in Reserve status prior to entering the military active duty. After the war, he began teaching for the Ector ISD from 1949-1960. In 1960 he came to Bonham ISD where he taught and coached until 1985. He lovingly became "Coach" to many and his students became great friends as they too graduated and stayed close to him and his family. He was a very active member of his community and the First United Methodist Church in Bonham where he served in every office of the church. He became an interim pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church, Telephone Methodist Church and served as lay minister for a number of years. He was a member of the Fannin County Athletic Sports Hall of Fame and served as Vice President. In 2013, the BISD voted to honor him with the Bonham High School Gymnasium to be named the Leonard Gerner Gymnasium and he was very proud of that. He was honored at Bonham Festival of Flight a few years ago and was taken up in the PT-19 Airplane that resembled the ones that he flew students during training for the war. He reportedly had a smile from ear to ear when he took the controls as the crowd watched him enjoy "Blue Skies". He will be missed by all that knew him.
Leonard was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Marie K. Gerner, and parents, James "Jim" Thomas Gerner & Albie Olga Kulhanek Gerner, and sister, Arlene Andelt.
He is survived by sisters-in-law: Edith and husband Alvin Fuller of Bonham and Mary Louise Sowels and husband Larry of Mt. Pleasant.
Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and a host of friends.
The family will receive friends at 6-8 pm on Tuesday, Jun 20, 2017 at Wise Funeral Home.
Leonard passed away on June 18, 2017. He is now in that place his Lord Jesus said he'd prepare for him. He is with his wife, Marie, whom he loved dearly. Standing in the presence of our Almighty God who loved us and gave Himself for us all. May glory and majesty and honor be given to our Lord Jesus forever more.
He was born July 12, 1918 in Crete, Nebraska to James "Jim" Thomas Gerner and Albie Olga Kulhanek. Leonard was a graduate of Crete, High School, Crete Nebraska and Doane College with a degree in Liberal Arts. He later attended the East Texas State University in Commerce where he received his Masters Degree in Education. He was a US Army/Air Force Veteran of World War II. He served as a flight instructor at Jones Field Airport in Bonham, Texas while in Reserve status prior to entering the military active duty. After the war, he began teaching for the Ector ISD from 1949-1960. In 1960 he came to Bonham ISD where he taught and coached until 1985. He lovingly became "Coach" to many and his students became great friends as they too graduated and stayed close to him and his family. He was a very active member of his community and the First United Methodist Church in Bonham where he served in every office of the church. He became an interim pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church, Telephone Methodist Church and served as lay minister for a number of years. He was a member of the Fannin County Athletic Sports Hall of Fame and served as Vice President. In 2013, the BISD voted to honor him with the Bonham High School Gymnasium to be named the Leonard Gerner Gymnasium and he was very proud of that. He was honored at Bonham Festival of Flight a few years ago and was taken up in the PT-19 Airplane that resembled the ones that he flew students during training for the war. He reportedly had a smile from ear to ear when he took the controls as the crowd watched him enjoy "Blue Skies". He will be missed by all that knew him.
Leonard was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Marie K. Gerner, and parents, James "Jim" Thomas Gerner & Albie Olga Kulhanek Gerner, and sister, Arlene Andelt.
He is survived by sisters-in-law: Edith and husband Alvin Fuller of Bonham and Mary Louise Sowels and husband Larry of Mt. Pleasant.
Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and a host of friends.
The family will receive friends at 6-8 pm on Tuesday, Jun 20, 2017 at Wise Funeral Home.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Leonard Arthur Gerner, please visit our flower store.
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