Gerald A. Tkach, 79, Dickinson, died surrounded by his family on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at CHI St. Alexius, Dickinson. Gerald’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9 a.m., Wednesday, October 31, 2018 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Jordan Dosch as the celebrant. Inurnment will follow at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Military Honors will be provided by the Dickinson American Legion Post 3 Honor Guard. Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday with a rosary and vigil at 6:30 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.
Gerald was born August 27, 1939 on the family farm south of Hebron to Peter and Marian (Loran) Tkach. He attended country school, St. Mary’s grade school and high school at the Abbey. He enlisted in the United States Navy on February 4, 1958. He was stationed in France and was on the USS Des Moines and USS Saratoga. He did combat duty during the Lebanon crisis and was Honorably discharged on January 19, 1962.
On November 12, 1962, he married Joanne Opp at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Hebron. To this union four children were born, Julie, Jackie, Jim and Jon.
He loved to hunt, fish, study native american culture and play pinochle. He loved the farm and walking the creeks and checking traps with his dad.
He worked jobs in construction and sales and once owned the Vac Shack.
Gerald is survived by his wife of almost 56 years, Joanne; their children, Julie (Dellas) Bentz, Jacqueline (Justin) Olson, Jim Tkach, Jonathan Tkach and Jeremy Hushka; eight grandkids, Dayton Bentz, Stevie (Dylan) Schaper, Christian Olson, Ben Tkach, Travis Tkach, Lauryn Tkach, Elizabeth Tkach and Amber Tkach; two great-grandkids, Henry and Aurora Schaper; siblings, Tim (Brenda) Tkach, Susan (Ray) Ficek, Sharon (Ben) Bertsch and Sheila (Jerome) Koehler; brother-in-law, Norman (Phyrn) Opp and sister-in-law, Betty Tkach.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Donald; and his in-laws, Christ and Tillie Opp.