John Martin Gerlach

John Martin Gerlach, 91, of Upsala, MN passed away on October 13, 2026, at Vitality Senior Living of Upsala. The family will hold a private burial service and memorial luncheon at a later date. Caring for John and his family is the LeMieur Funeral Home in Little Falls, MN.
Born March 7, 1935, to the late Rose and Harold Gerlach, John spent much of his childhood in Upsala, MN. It was there that he, the football player, met and married the cheerleader, Marilyn Nelson, in 1954. He and Marilyn moved to the Minneapolis area and grew their family with the arrival of their children: daughters Rose, Susan, Terry, and son John. John worked in the construction industry to provide for his family, but his larger-than-life personality and sense of adventure were at their best off the jobsite. John loved the outdoors, spending weekends fishing or hunting. He also loved engines and speed, combining his passions when racing snowmobiles, participating in water ski shows, riding dirt bikes and quads in the Baja, cruising on his motorcycle, and finding a good time anywhere he went. He chased that adrenaline and adventure his entire life, going on one final fishing trip with his son, sons-in-law, and grandson at 91 years old in the summer of 2026.
After retirement, John and Marilyn split their time between their home on Cedar Lake in Upsala and a home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. John considered these opportunities to be such a gift. Their free time allowed them to focus on the activities and people they loved, building on lifelong friendships and creating new ones as they wintered and traveled. They were delighted, supportive grandparents and great-grandparents. John’s laughter and quiet, steadfast faith will echo through his memory. John loved baseball hats, Classic Coke, and Fords, but most of all, he loved his family.
He is survived by his children, Rose (Paul) Lundequam, Susan (Dan) Swanson, and John D. Gerlach; grandchildren, Lisa (Matt) Cavanaugh, Myndi Swanson, Kim (Jason) DeShaw, Nate Swanson, Samantha (Harper) Barrett, Andy (Cassy) Lundequam; 10 great-grandchildren; as well as his sisters, Joyce Swanson and Marlys (John) Atkinson, and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marilyn Nelson Gerlach; his daughter and son-in-law, Terry and Jeff Johnson; his parents, Harold Gerlach and Rose Gerlach Johnson; his sisters, Marianne Johnson and June McCoy, and their respective husbands, both named Harold; and his brother-in-law, Glen Swanson.