Gerald Eberling

Gerald Eberling age 90 of Nashua, IA, died Wednesday, October 16, 2019, at the Patty Elwood Center in Cresco, IA. Funeral Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 18, 2019, at Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory - Olson Chapel in Nashua with Rev. John Tunnicliff officiating. Friends may greet the family an hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Friday. Interment will be held in Oak Hill Cemetery, Nashua with John Paul, Bill Harrington, Lue Harrington, Luke Harrington, Bob Haugen, and Charlie Kellner serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearer is Billy Dietz. Gerald’s happy-go-lucky life began on August 29, 1929, when he was born to Eli and Elna (Dieke) in Postville, Iowa. His family moved to Nashua and he ended up playing basketball and a little football for the Bulldogs before graduating with the Nashua High School Class of 1947. He served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War era, and after he was honorably discharged, he took a job as a maintenance man at a YMCA in Chicago. But he made the trek home to Nashua often, and although he was never married, his family meant everything to him. He could fix anything, and we mean anything, and when he repaired something without having to go to a hardware store, that was a win in Gerald’s book. In 1984, Gerald retired and moved home to Nashua, but life was just beginning for a man who brought so much joy (and more than a few stories) to the people he loved. He was famous for his apple juice, he loved to travel and in Gerald’s mind, it was always “5 o’clock somewhere.” He visited all 50 states and often got together with his Air Force buddies, but the fact of the matter is he loved all kinds of people. He was one of those guys who never met a stranger. He was a beer man, and he hosted the best “Coke and Joke” get-togethers on his front lawn. Each time, he went to get a beer, he would bring his nieces, nephews and other family members a pop. Gerald loved going to family dinners, and he never came empty-handed; he always brought Harrington sweet corn. When he wasn’t traveling, he always made his daily rounds (often with a beer in his hand and a couple in the basket), visiting the Post Office to read the Nashua Reporter for free and then stopping at the banks to pick up some nourishment and calendars, which he often handed out to his buddies. Yes, Gerald loved his cookies, so much so that at his funeral, his family will be serving cookies and punch. He enjoyed the simple things in life — helping a friend, spending time with his family and even just sitting outside and hearing the sound of gunshots from the trapshooting range, which reminded him of his late great-nephew, TJ Houdek. Even as his health began to fail, his sense of humor remained intact. He asked for a beer, and all they had was one of those new-fangled beers that had coconut and pineapple in it. “This beer tastes awful,” he said, “but I’m drinking it anyway.” Gerald knew his time was coming to an end; when it snowed last weekend, he told his family and the caregivers that “I’m seeing my last snowfall.” But he was a gracious man, too, and he made sure to thank all those who had loved, supported and cared for him in his final days. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the TJ Houdek Scholarship. Gerald is survived by two nephews, John (Teri) Houdek of Paris, TX, Tom (Diane) Houdek of Charles City, IA; three nieces, Sandra Paul of Charles City, IA, Sharon Luckenbaugh of Texarkana, TX, Jamie Holly; along with two great-nieces and four great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Donald Eberling in 2002; sister, Dorothy Houdek in 2008; great-nephew, Thomas John Houdek “TJ” in 2016.