Obituary of Gerald H. Block

Gerald H. Block, formerly of Salina, Kansas, died July 30, 2008 in Coralville, IA of complications related to multiple myeloma. Gerald was born on March 18, 1924 in Glendale, Kansas, and grew up in the Salina area, graduating from Bavaria High School. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 and served aboard the minesweeper, U.S.S. Buoyant, as Yeoman 2nd Class. Gerald’s naval service aboard the U.S.S. Buoyant took him from the Aleutian Islands to the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946 and returned to Salina, where he graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University in 1949. There Gerald met and married Arline L. Sandberg of Burdick, KS on December 30, 1950. They had four children and were long-time members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Salina. Gerald worked 22 years for the U.S. Postal Service in payroll and accounting, after which he joined the Kansas State Employment Division, where he worked as a determinations writer for 12 years until retirement. Gerald resided in Salina until 2005, when declining health forced his move to Iowa to be near his daughter. His favorite activities included playing the trumpet, singing in the Immanuel Lutheran Church choir (Salina), Voices of Experience (Iowa City), and ballroom dancing. Gerald is preceded in death by his wife, Arline. He is survived by four children: Audrey Block and her partner, Carol Farr, of Portland, Oregon; Gordon Block and his wife, Tia, of Yamhill, Oregon; Stephanie Dotzel and her husband, Robert, of Iowa City, Iowa; and Valerie Block and her partner, Rhonda Vanover, of Manassas, Virginia. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Annie Block Hood of Berkeley, California; Ingrid Block of Grass Valley, California; Krista Dotzel of Iowa City, Iowa; and Rebekah Dotzel of Iowa City, Iowa. He has one great grandson, Benjamin of Grass Valley, California. A funeral will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Salina, KS, at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 6. Services are provided by Ryan Mortuary of Salina; local arrangements were provided through Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. Online condolences may be sent for Gerald’s family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com.