Herman Arthur Gerber Jr

Herman Arthur Gerber Jr, 82 years old and a lifelong resident of Kansas City, passed away peacefully on June 29 after only one month in memory care. Herman graduated from Turner High School in 1957 and went to work at Hinde & Dauch, a paper making company. He married his wife of 64 years, Mary Ann Fiene Gerber, in June of 1958, and started a family soon after with the birth of their daughters, Cathy Gerber Phillips and Michelle Gerber. Herman was a non-traditional student and while working full time attended Donnelly College and the University of Kansas where he earned a BA in Art Education and later a MA in Art Eduction. He taught elementary art in North Kansas City and moved to Kansas City Kansas as one of the original art teachers at Harmon High School. When he retired in 1998, he was the director of art for the KCK school district. Many people know of Herman’s interest and talent when it comes to drawing and watercolor, but Herman also enjoyed planting flowers and trees long before there was an HGTV. In fact for several years, he worked part time at Holsinger Nursery. One of just several part time jobs he held. He also loved to travel and had visited several states with the mountains of Colorado being a regular destination. He enjoyed 2 or 3 week tours of Europe. Herman was a dancer which became apparent when in high school he was chosen to represent Turner in the Press Ball. He and Mary Ann even square danced with Moonshiner Square Dance Club for several years, but most recently they enjoyed weekly trips to Tonganoxie and Harrisonville for live music and dancing. What Herman absolutely loved the most was his family. He is survived by his wife Mary Ann Gerber, daughters Cathy Phillips (Jim), Michelle Gerber (Terry), grandchildren Caitlin Heck (Tom), Eric Phillips (Alyssa), Libby Phillips, Grace Flynn Gerber and Matthew Flynn Gerber. Great Grandchildren Henry Heck, Sam Heck and Poppy Phillips. He was the true definition of a grandfather and was Papa Herman to Griffin, Nick and Kirby Knipp, Dylan and Jake Crandall, Trey, Carolyn and Margaret Schorgel, Caleb, Noah and Brookey Willis, Tanner and Kelsey Krstulic, Kendall Beery and Lucy Knipp. His sisters Francis Mollett and Linda Snavely also survive him. Services to celebrate Herman’s 82 years will be at Bristol Hill United Methodist Church on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers and because Herman taught drawing and painting at Lansing and sang with the East Hill Singers, the family request that donations be made to Arts in Prison.

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Herman Arthur Gerber Jr

September 23, 1939 - July 29, 2022