Gervase Wolbert Sr

A memorial service for Gerve Wolbert Sr. will be held on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 10:00 am at the Blanche Beck Memorial Chapel in Pioneer Manor. After telling us he was sick, for years, Gerve L. Wolbert Sr. died unexpectedly from natural causes on Friday August 17th at Pioneer Manor. He was born October 18th 1919 in Snydersburg Pennsylvania. He was the oldest of ten children. He had 5 brothers and 4 sisters. Gerve enjoyed a lifetime of fishing. He pitched horseshoes into his early 80?s and was very good at it. He wrote poetry and limericks. Solving cross word puzzles was one of his passions. He loved playing his guitars and singing. Right to the end, Gerve always had a joke or riddle to tell. He enjoyed making other people laugh and never passed up an opportunity to kid around. He was never bashful! Gerve didn?t like cats, especially black ones!Gerve was a devout Catholic and grew up in Western PA. He started working in an underground coal mine with a pick and a shovel when he was 14 years old to help support his family. Gerve enlisted in the United States Army on Feb19th 1942. He was a member of the 208th Field Artillery, Battery C. He landed in Normandy France during the D-day invasion. He fought through Northern France, Central Europe, the Ardennes Belgium, and Germany. On more than one occasion he captured several prisoners of war. He was awarded the bronze star for valor for these actions and others that he preformed while under enemy fire. He received 5 battle stars, and a purple heart for shrapnel wounds he received. After Germany surrendered, he and several buddies volunteered to take the fight to Japan. The war ended before they had the opportunity. On November 25th 1945, after 3 years, 9 months and 6 days he was honorably discharged as a Tech Corp (T-5) from the US Army. He was always very proud of his service to our country. He remained in contact with his buddies from this period in his life until they too passed away late in life. Gerve married Mary Ridgeway Myers on June 6th 1946 in Clarion Pennsylvania. Together they had 10 children. Gerve supported his family by working as a Manager in the Knox Auto supply store. He also was employed as a truck driver hauling all kinds of different freight up and down the eastern United States. With ten kids, he said ?The hardest part of being a parent was trying to make a living. The easiest part was staying the hell away from home?. In his younger life, Gerve played both the electric and acoustic guitar. He also played the harmonica. He had a band called the Gerve Aces and enjoyed playing at Huddies bar in rural Pennsylvania. Even later in his life Gerve would play his guitar and sing at picnics, Christmas, and other gatherings while the rest of his family joined in singing old songs wildly off key and laughing all the time. In 1984 Gerve and Mary moved to Gillette to be closer to some of their children. As his wife?s health failed, Gerve worked for several years at the Mini Mart store on 4th and Douglas highway to assist for her needs. This is something else he was very proud of. In 1990, Mary passed away. He loved his wife dearly and never remarried. Gerve lived with his son Gerve Jr. until 2005 when he begrudgingly moved into Pioneer Manor. A week after he moved in he joked that he couldn?t leave because he was afraid that they wouldn?t let him come back. As his mobility decreased, Gerve enjoyed sending e-mail jokes to friends and family. He liked flirting with all the girls who helped take care of him at Pioneer Manor. He loved eating pizza and playing bingo with his friends at the Manor. On Fathers Day 2007, for the first time in 30 years, all 10 of his children were able to get together at once and surprise him with a party. Most all of his 19 grand children and 11 great grand children were also able to attend.Gerve was preceded in death by his beloved wife Mary, his parents, and 3 of his brothers and sisters. He is survived by his sons: Gerve Jr, Terry, and Christopher Wolbert of Gillette Wyoming, Darrell Wolbert of Riverton Wyoming, Anthony Wolbert of St. Louis Missouri, and Patrick Wolbert from Sainte Genieve, Missouri; daughters: Laurie Williams of Dubois Wyoming, Gerveann Hutchinson (his favorite) of Gillette Wyoming, Nancy Kling of Bloomfield, New Mexico, and Maria Winters of Casper Wyoming he is also survived by his extended family, the many staff and friends that he had at Pioneer Manor.