Rodney "Rod" Reuel Gerlach

Rodney "Rod" Reuel Gerlach, 69, of Green Bay died on January 8th, 2026, at Bellin Hospital peacefully with his family at his bedside after a battle with an unexpected illness.

Rod was born on July 8th, 1956, to Rose and Reuel Gerlach, where he spent his youth in Mountain and Pulaski, Wisconsin. He also enjoyed summertime visits to his father's extended family in Newburg, Wisconsin.  In 1974, he graduated from Pulaski High School. He worked at various places, including Neenah Foundry, Green Bay Metropolitan Sewage Plant, and Fort Howard/Georgia Pacific, until he medically retired. 

At Georgia Pacific, he met his wife, Cindy Louise Gerlach (67), and they married in 1987. They had one miracle baby girl, Christina "Chrissy" Rose Gerlach (29), in 1996. After Georgia Pacific, Rod spent his time exercising his gregarious nature by making friends down at the family vacation home in Florida, spending time at the YMCA, and helping out at home with raising Chrissy. 

Rod’s true passion was drumming, especially to 60's music. He would often moonlight as a drummer, and that passion followed him from the time he got his first drum set at age six until the end of his life. Even when his body prevented him from getting behind a drum set, he could always be seen air drumming to his favorite tunes. In addition, Rod never met a cat or dog he didn't like, but he was always fond of his Boston Terriers. 

Rod is survived by his wife, Cindy, and his daughter, Chrissy. He was preceded in death by his parents. He will finally greet all of his deceased pets at the Rainbow Bridge, bask in that warm Florida sun, and drum to his heart's content in Heaven. 

Funeral services will be on Saturday, January 24th, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. at the Lyndahl Funeral Home.  Burial of his remains will take place in the spring.  The family will greet relatives and friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the services at 3:30 p.m.

The family would like to extend sincere thanks to all the staff at Bellin Memorial Hospital ICU and Unity Hospice for their excellent care of Rod before his passing. 

In lieu of flowers, the family will be doing a collection for the Fox Valley Humane Society in Rod's memory.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family by visiting www.lyndahl.com

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