Virgil M. Gerig

Virgil M. Gerig, 88, of Goshen, died at his home Monday afternoon, March 13, 2006.   He was born January 26, 1918, in Smithville, Ohio, to Melvin R. and Della (Yoder) Gerig.  In Smithville, Ohio, on June 2, 1946, he married Mary Kay Ramseyer.  She died January 21, 1995.   A retired minister, Mr. Gerig, was a member of the College Mennonite Church.  He attended Goshen College, graduated from College of Wooster, Ohio, and Princeton Theological Seminary.  He had pastored the Oak Grove Mennonite Church in Smithville, Ohio; the Grace Mennonite Church in Pandora, Ohio; the Salem-Zion Mennonite Church in Freeman, South Dakota; the Hively Avenue Mennonite Church in Elkhart, Indiana; and the Maseru United Church in Maseru, Lesotho.    He retired in Goshen and served interim pastorates at the Pleasant Oaks Mennonite Church in Middlebury, Indiana and the Sunnyside Mennonite Church in Elkhart, Indiana.   He is survived by three daughters, Christine K. Thogersen and Elinor R. Gerig, both of Goshen, and Beth E. (Robert) Bontrager of Corvallis, Oregon; two sons, David A. (Janette) Gerig of Clovis, New Mexico and Richard L. (Marcia) Gerig of Glendale, Arizona; ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by a sister, Emily E. Bender of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.   He was preceded in death by his wife and two sisters, Marie G. Miller and Eloise A. Caskey.   Friends will be received 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday, March 18, at the College Mennonite Church.   A memorial service will be held at 5:00 p.m., Sunday, March 19, 2006, at the College Mennonite Church.  Rev. Klaudia Smucker of the College Church will officiate.   Burial will be in Violett Cemetery, Goshen.   Memorial contributions may be made to Seniors for Peace, College Mennonite Church or Goshen Care at Home Hospice.