Alfred "Gerry" Gerald Ehrler

Alfred Gerald “Gerry” Ehrler, 87, passed away on October 26, 2024. Gerry was born on December 4, 1936, to Alfred and Dorothy Ehrler, who homesteaded in Carragana, Saskatchewan. Growing up on a small farm with his three siblings, Gerry embraced the chores and joys of farm life. Among his fondest memories were the egg deliveries he and his mother made to town, earning a bit of extra spending money and time together.

After finishing high school in Carragana, Gerry attended the University of Saskatchewan for two years before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force as a navigator. As technology evolved, he made the difficult decision to leave his officer’s commission to pursue a career in electronics, marking the start of his life’s fascination with the field. During basic training, he met Private Frances Doody, sparking a whirlwind romance. The couple married on June 4, 1959, and soon welcomed their children, Stella and Frank.

Gerry’s military career took the family across Canada to places like Clinton, ON, Orillia, ON, Beaverlodge, AB, Foymont, ON, Chibougamau, QC, Falconbridge, ON and finally Alsask, SK. With each new base, Gerry would find a plot of ground to start a garden. Known for his bountiful tomato harvests, he became a beloved figure, often seen sharing his tomatoes with neighbors each fall. Farming was deep in his bones. At one-point in Alsask, Gerry built a greenhouse that when a large wind blew up (not an unusual occurrence in Alsask), the greenhouse took off like a kite and Gerry suffered many a joke about this.

A man of many hobbies, Gerry enjoyed building model airplanes, tinkering with electronics, and was an avid reader, particularly of science fiction fantasy. After retiring from the military in 1981, he and Frances moved to Swan Hills, Alberta, where Gerry took on a role refurbishing electronics in the oil field, which suited his skills and passions perfectly.

In 1993, Gerry and Frances moved to Oliver, British Columbia, where they bought an orchard and built a home. Gerry’s small orchard was the passion of his life (after Frances, of course). He grew peaches, apricots, and cherries and he felt he had personally created and formed each piece of fruit. When his health forced him to leave the orchard in 2001, and he was unable to do the work necessary to keep the orchard going, Gerry and Frances made the decision to move into the town of Oliver and once again, Gerry put in a small garden. They would call Oliver home until Frances passed in October of 2022.

Gerry is lovingly remembered by his daughter, Stella Ehrler; his son, Frank Ehrler (Lloyd Hamilton); his granddaughters, Toni Anderson and Alix Sullivan (Cameron Sullivan); his six great-grandchildren, Katherine, Madeline, Emily, Seamus, Henry, and Finn; and his sister, Ruth Purrington. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Joyce Lyster (Chris Lyster), and his brother, Robert Ehrler (Inga Ehrler).

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the caregivers at Colonel Belcher Nursing Home, who cared for Gerry with great compassion during his final months.

A Memorial Service will be held in Oliver, BC, on June 4, 2025, with details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Gerry’s name may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

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