Gerald Heimlich

Rev. Gerald Paul Heimlich

Gerald Paul Heimlich was born on June 17, 1940, in Rensselaer, IN to Herman and Lula (Rowen) Heimlich.  He was baptized into faith on July 21, 1940. He grew up in Demotte, IN and had four siblings, Charles, Delpha, Curt, and Ken, of which he was the youngest.  He attended school in Demotte and played a number of sports including basketball, football, track, and also worked on truck farms in the area.  Upon graduating from Demotte high school in 1958, he attended Indiana State Teachers College for a year before continuing his education at Concordia Teachers College, River Forest (now Concordia University, Chicago) in Illinois.  He graduated with a teaching degree in 1963, while serving as a teacher at St John’s Lutheran School in Chaska, MN.  After graduation he was assigned as a teacher of history and religion at Mayer Lutheran High School in Mayer, MN.  While he was at Mayer, he also coached several sports teams including track, football, and wrestling.  Most importantly while at Mayer, he met Lois Esther Melchert, who would become his wife.  He was married to Lois on June 11, 1966, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waconia, MN. 

While he was at Mayer High School, he felt the call to the ministry, and entered the colloquy program at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Springfield, IL.  He completed his studies while teaching and graduated in 1972.  He was installed in his first parish at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Falls City, NE in 1972, and was pastor there for three years.  He then served at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Osseo, MN from 1975 – 1979.  In 1979 he moved to serve at St. John Lutheran Church in Amlin (now Dublin) OH, where he was pastor for the remainder of his pastoral career.  While at St. John the church expanded greatly, building an education wing and new sanctuary. He had a passion for Christian education and was instrumental in starting the preschool at St. John.  He was also very active in missions work, serving on the Ohio District Mission Board and worked to start several mission congregations, including Beautiful Savior Lutheran in Powell, OH.  He retired from the ministry in 2002 and resided in Columbus and Grove City, OH.  He passed from this earth and entered his eternal glory on August 29, 2023, after a short illness.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, sister Delpha, brothers Charles and Ken, and his loving wife Lois.  He is survived by four children: Lynn, John (Angela), Carrie, and Kathy McLain.  He has four grandchildren: Jeremy McLain II, Andrew, Owen, and Emily Heimlich, and was extremely proud to have baptized all of them.  He is also survived by his brother Curt and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Gerald will be on September 19 from 4 PM to 8 PM at St. John Lutheran Church in Dublin, OH (6135 Rings Rd., Dublin, OH).  The funeral service will be on September 20 at 11 AM, with visitation at 10 AM, also at St. John Dublin.  There will be a luncheon after the service at the St. John gymnasium.  There will be no committal service.  In lieu of flowers, Gerald requested donations to the St. John Dublin School Fund.