Our loving husband, father and grandfather passed away Monday, January 16, 2012 at Bay Regional Medical Center, age 70. He was born January 26, 1941 in Bay City to the late Perl D. and Zella Ruth (Billingsley) Eckerd. Gerald married Lorraine C. Engel in Saginaw on August 15, 1964; she survives him. He retired from General Motors-Saginaw Metal Casting in 2003 after 39 years of dedicated service. Gerald was a member of the Wenona Masonic Lodge #256 in Bay City and the Elf Khurafeh Shriners in Saginaw. He received his HAMM radio license (call sign, WB8ROC) in 1973 and was very involved with the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. He was a Life Scout, Cub Master, Scout Master and Explore Advisor for several years. Gerald had several hobbies but most important was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Surviving besides his wife, Lorraine is four children: Kenneth (Tammy) Eckerd, Barbara (Lyle) Behmlander, Patricia (Joel) Bukowski and Daniel (Cylithria) Eckerd, seven grandchildren: Jonathan, Kimberlyn, Daniel, Nicklas, Kella, Kristina and Jena, Gerald's mother in-law, Ida R. Engel, sister in-law, Janice (Don) Lipfert, brother in-law, Terry (Lois) Engel, special friends and very close cousins, Patsy (James) Germain. Gerald was predeceased by a sister, Joan (Jim) Perry and a nephew, James Perry.

The Funeral Service will be held Friday, January 20, 2012 at 11:00am at Squires Funeral Home. Rev. Paul D. Theiss will officiate and private interment will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 3:00 to 9:00pm and Friday after 10:00am. Members of the Masonic Lodge will hold their Lodge of Sorrow service Thursday at 7:00pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are asked to be considered to the Elf Khurafeh Shrine Saginaw Building Fund or a charity of donor's choice.