apparently changed to GERHARD spelling? Valentine Gerhard, the sixth child of ten children, was born 4/3/1913 in a sod house on the Devils Knuckles Farm north of Devils Lake ND to Russian immigrants Valentin(e) Gerhardt 1876-1957 CA, and Eva Rose (Volk) Gerhardt 1884-1973 WI. His parents, born in Elsass South Russia, married in Devils Lake ND, are buried in Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Cudahy WI. Val took the name of Edward as he was confirmed as a Roman Catholic, and became known as an adult as Valentine Edward Gerhard, Jr. Val never enjoyed his name, and as a child he was known as Kelly. Val attended elementary school in Devils Lake ND until 1923, then continued and was graduated 1927, from St. Mary's Elementary in South Milwaukee WI. Val graduated from South Milwaukee High School with Class of 1931. After graduation he was a golf caddie, and he also worked the concession stand inside Bucyrus-Erie, an industrial plant next door to his home. He did not like the work he found after high school, so 11/10/1933 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps - CCC #SP-4 656 - West Allis [WI] Honey Creek, two miles north of the West Allis railroad stop. After having known Mary Ann Job for about five years, they married on June 21, 1940, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church on Livernois and Stearn in Detroit. She was the daughter of Johannes "John" Job 1880-1927 and Maria Anna "Mary Ann" Schaan Job 1886-1918. Mary Ann was born August 23, 1915, in rural Tunbridge ND, north of Balta, and died 1/19/1995 at home in Dearborn Towers, Dearborn MI. Val and Mary became parents to John Raymond Gerhard (wife Sue Budaluco Gerhard) of NY, Virginia Ann Walter of MI, Joan Marie Brown (husband W. Charles Brown) of MI, and Mary Elaine Dwyer (husband Thomas E. Dwyer) of MA. All four of their children were born in Detroit, and grew to adulthood while living at 18962 Oakfield, Detroit MI. Val worked as a house painter, but his color blindness ended that career. On 3/29/1937 Val began working for the U. S. Post Office, Detroit MI, as a substitute making collection runs and delivering parcel post packages and retired 10/31/1969 as Assistant Director of Operations Division for local services. Val had part-time jobs as a part-time cab driver, and as a clerk for Bell Drugs, so his wife could be a stay-at-home Mom. After retirement from the Post Office, Val took a course in Downtown Detroit to become a stock broker, but after passing the course he decided it was not a career for him. His diabetes was discovered when he applied for a job with Detroit Ball Bearing in 1970. Val worked five years at Detroit Ball Bearing, then permanently retired. Val, who highly valued education, enjoyed singing, traveling, golfing, children, family visits, watching Detroit Tiger baseball games, and listening to classical music and stock market reports. He was the inventor of the Gerhard Size Portion for pies, cutting a pie into quarters. Val was a former Boy Scout leader, member of NARFE, National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Val was the devoted grandfather of Christine Marie Gerhard, Matthew John Gerhard (Gina Liangdungco Rodriguez Gerhard), John William Walter (Adriane Jacobson Giebel), Steven Edward Walter (Lauren Jennifer Powel Walter), Julie Ann Walter (Edward Burton Billings), Kevin Robert Walter, Donna Janette Brown, Karen Colleen Brown Fry (Leif Christian Fry), Elaine Michelle Dwyer Hou (Bernard Hou), Amy Catherine Dwyer (Duy Binh Nguyen), and Sharon Valerie Dwyer; great-grandfather of Joseph Michael Gerhard, Aaron "AJ" Rodriguez, Kyle Rodriguez, Justin Rodriguez, Sebastian Alexander Gerhard, Charmane Richalee Gerhard, Jennifer Grace Walter, Natalie Elizabeth Walter, Claire Evelyn Walter, Isabel Walter Billings 1995-1995, Gabrielle Walter Billings, Sydney Walter Billings, Hayden Walter Billlings, Dylan Walter Billings, Charles Burnham Fry, James Olson Fry, Thomas Christian Fry, Rachel Dolores Hou, Adrian Bernard Hou, and Edward Binh Nguyen. Val's siblings are Lambert Gerhardt 1903-1903 ND, Frank Joseph Gerhard 1904-1999 MI (wives Agnes Job 1909-1996 and Mabel Shillito Hyde 1913-1999), Catherine Gerhardt 1906-1906 ND, Catherine Margaret Gerhardt Brower 1908-1994 CA (husband Charles "George" Cademus Brower 1901-1975), Michael John Gerhardt 1911-1984 WI (wife Violet Mae Shurpit Gerhardt living in WI), Lambert Ronald Gerhard 1915-1986 MI (wife Dolores Marie Mathilda Hann Gerhard 1915-2003), Magdalen "Lena" Gerhardt Lisowski 1918-1988 WI (husband Clarence "Chet" Chester Leo Lisowski 1911-1986), George John Gerhardt living in AZ, and Joseph Gerhardt 1924-1924 WI. Val was brother-in-law to Eva Moreau 1906-1989 FL and husband Leon Moreau 1904-1998 FL, John Job 1907-1931 ND, Pius Job 1908-1916 ND, William Job 1911-1975 ND and wife Elizabeth Kupser Job living in ND, Elizabeth Hoffart 1913-2001 OR and husband Joseph J. Hoffart 1906-1992 OR, Eleanora Job 1914-1914 ND, Eleanor Garbarino 1917-1997 TX and husband Alfred "Fred" Garbarino 1913-1988 TX, and Baby Job 1918-1918 ND. Val is survived by 16 nieces and 17 nephews, and was predeceased by six nephews. Valentine Gerhard died Wednesday, July 18, at home at American House Assisted Living in Northville MI. Funeral Mass was Saturday July 21, 10 AM at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Farmington MI. Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home, 23720 Farmington Road, Farmington. Cremains burial Monday 7/23, 10:30 AM, in grave shared with wife Mary Ann at St. Hedwig Cemetery, Dearborn Heights MI. Contributions to Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Detroit MI, appreciated.