Adrian (Ed) Gerritsen

1920 ~ 2007

Ed was born on June 8, 1920 in Salt Lake City to Adrian Gerritsen, Sr. and Wilhelmina Susanna Vilart, both from Holland. Through his mother's previous marriage, he was blessed with two wonderful sisters: Wilhelmina (Minnie) and Johanna. His parents married in the Salt Lake Temple and four more children came to the family: Adrian (Ed or Eddie), Henry (Hank), Catherine (Kay), and Jacob (Jake).

Ed grew up in Salt Lake City. He enjoyed being a boy scout, was active in the LDS Church, and worked hard to help out his family by doing many odd jobs. While attending West High School he worked at Dinwoody's Furniture where he found an interest in carpentry. After graduation he went to Portland, Oregon seeking a carpentry school but ended up working at several jobs. In 1940 he worked as a civilian cabinet-maker in the US territory of Hawaii for the Navy. After experiencing the attack on Pearl Harbor, Ed was called to serve in the US

Army for two years in Hawaii.

After World War II, he returned to Salt Lake City in 1943 and married Anne Marie Knaphus, whom he had met a few years earlier. They moved to Portland for 1 1/2 years before permanently returning to Salt Lake City. They had three sons: John Adrian, Bryan Reed, and Allen Paul. Ed and Marie later divorced. He also had another son, Adrian Vischon.

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Throughout his life, Ed enjoyed traveling (particularly with his sons), exploring ghost towns and old mines, and finding rocks and minerals. He worked in various businesses including Pioneer Reality, title work, mining, and finally land management for the US Forest Service. When he retired at age 85, he was honored as the oldest employee of the Forest Service. Ed served in the Boy Scout program; as a Seventy; in the Sunday School; the High Priest Group Leadership; and was known for many years as the neighborhood chef for Thanksgiving and other meals for the widows and needy.

Adrian was preceded in death by his parents, two half sisters, a great-granddaughter, Elle Kae Gerritsen, and many good friends and neighbors. He is survived by his brothers of Salt Lake City: Henry (Beth),

Jacob (Delores), sister Catherine (Earl) Barnett, of Victorville, California; sons John (Janice), Bryan (Becky), Allen (Juli), and Adrian (Janelle) Vischon; 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held on Sat. Aug. 11, 2007 from 10-11 a.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple in Salt Lake City. A short memorial service will be held at 11:15 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment will follow at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

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