Rex D. Gerig

Rex was born, one of eight children, on November 5, 1935, in Albany, Oregon to Henry and Bertha (Boshart) Gerig. He grew up in the Lebanon/Albany area where he met his lifelong fishing and hunting partner, Shirley Kauffman. They were married in 1954 and fished, hunted and loved each other for over 68 years.

The young couple moved to Denver, Colorado in 1955 where he did 1W work at General Rose Memorial Hospital, sold Singer Sewing Machines, and their first two children were born. They moved back to Oregon in 1957 with $10 in his pocket, and to Milwaukie, Oregon in 1959, where his final two children were born and he lived out his full life.

In Milwaukie, Rex worked a short stint at Milwaukie Plywood Mill. He then got a job with Jake Colhouer Building Demolition, continuing a 45 year long career demolishing buildings and changing the face of Portland, Oregon.

After he and his wife retired, they liked to travel, spend winters in Sun City, Arizona, and watch their family grow. He loved family, family vacations, and camping and get-togethers. He was surrounded by his children, many grandchildren, and some of his great-grandchildren during his last hours, and passed peacefully into the presence of his Lord on March 17, 2026.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley and six siblings. He is survived by one sister, Grace Miller; four children and spouses, Shirleen and Mark Stoller, Jerri and Shawn Brock, Ric & Daria Gerig, and Lonny and Cherlynn Gerig; 19 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild, with another on the way.

A Cemetery Service will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 23, 2026, at Fairview Mennonite Cemetery, Albany, Oregon. AMemorial Service will be 3:00 p.m., Saturday, April 11, 2026 at New Life Church Gladstone, 6125 Caldwell Road, Gladstone, Oregon.