John P. Gebert

John P. Gebert, age 85, of Merrill, died Friday, January 11, 2013, at his home.
John was born October 19, 1927, son of the late Paul and Mildred Gebert.  John married Anita Higgins on June 23, 1951, in Kankakee, IL.  She preceded him in death on February 26, 1995.  John was a graduate of Merrill High School.  He enlisted in the United States Army and served from 1945-1948, with one year in Nuremberg, Germany.  John attended and graduated from Lawrence University in Appleton.  It was here that he met his future wife, Anita Higgins, while working on the school’s newspaper.  Together, John and Anita attended graduate school at Stanford University.  They eventually moved back to Merrill.  John worked at his father’s feed mill for 15 years.  He then worked at Northcentral Technical College for 20 years as the public relations director.  John retired from N.T.C. at the age of 62.  John’s main passion was literature.  He also enjoyed the camaraderie shared at his hunting shack in Newwood. 
Survivors include his son, John W. Gebert, of Merrill; one sister, Louis Gebert Pannier, of Sun City West, Arizona; and one nephew, Bill Morris, of Merrill.  John was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Mildred Gebert; his wife of nearly 44 years, Anita Gebert; and his sister, June Gebert Morris.
John wanted it noted that he was an ordinary human being and lived an ordinary life.  It was his wish to be cremated. 
“What is life?  It is the flash of a firefly in the night.  It is the breath of a buffalo vanishing in the winter air.  It is the little shadow which runs across the prairie grass and loses itself in the fading sunset.”  Crowfoot, a Black Foot Indian Chief and Orator, on his deathbed, 1890.  John chose this quotation as his epitaph.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 P.M. until 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, January 20, 2013, at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com
Memorials may be directed to T.B. Scott Library, Merrill; or Christ United Methodist Church, Merrill. 
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com