Charles W. Gerber 1874-1937

GERBER, YOUNKER

Posted By: Deb (email)
Date: 3/14/2015 at 23:53:55

The Burlington Hawkeye-Monday, Dec. 6, 1937, page 2

Gerber Rites to be Tuesday
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Expert On Land Values Was Former Pitcher in Three-I Baseball League
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Funeral services for Charles W. Gerber, 63, who died suddenly in Hotel Burlington apartment Saturday afternoon, will be held at Prugh's chapel at 10am Tuesday.

The funeral will be conducted by the Rev. R.R. Belter, pastor of the Bethany Lutheran church. Interment will be in the Aspen Grove cemetery.

Born in Burlington Aug. 23, 1874, he was the son of Conrad and Sena Gerber. His father was a boilermaker employed at the Burlington Route roundhouse.

Baseball Player
As a youth and young man, Mr. Gerber was active as a baseball player, at one time serving as a pitcher for the Carman, Ill. team. He later was a pitcher for the Burlington team in the old Three-I league in the 1900's

Mr. Gerber's health was poor in the early 1900's and he was advised by physicians to find some outdoor work, and operated a ferry between Burlington and Pontoosuc until 1905.
He married Anna M. Younker at Oquawka, Ill., Oct. 14, 1899.

For the next few years, he and Mrs. Gerber operated a general store at Pontoosuc(Illinois). After that he was in the real estate business, and in 1911 and 1912 was associated with H.M. Gittings in a realty office here.

With Bank
In 1912 Mr. Gerber became connected with the First Iowa Trust and Savings bank real estate department and was there continuously until 1932, except for slightly more than two years, 1923 to 1926, when he was employed by the Illinois Light and Power company, obtaining right-of-way. Transferred to Georgia by this firm, he remained there 18 months, then returned to the Burlington bank. Before being transferred to the south, however, he handled considerable real estate appraising for the bank.

For more than four years he had been in the real estate division of the closed banks receivership. Mr. Gerber was considered an outstanding authority on land values and on soil. Familiar with land throughout this area, he was sought constantly for opinions and views on values, and was able to give offhand the history of much of the farm land in this district.

As a youth, Mr. Gerber was confirmed in the Lutheran church. He was also a member of Masonic and Elks lodges. Widely not only in Burlington, but in nearby Illinois and Iowa communities, Mr. Gerber was well liked.