Michael Gerlach

Michael Sean Gerlach, 59 of Two Harbors, formerly of Duluth, died Friday, June 28, 2013 at home after a battle with cancer.
Michael was born in Moorhead, Minnesota on May 17th, 1954 to James A. and M. Lucille Gerlach.
He graduated from Shanley Catholic High School in 1972. He then attended the University of
North Dakota, Grand Forks, for one year where he was admitted to the UND chapter of Phi
Eta Signa, the national freshman honor society prior to enlisting in the United States Army
where he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service.
Upon completion of his enlistment he was honorably discharged and attended Moorhead
State University where he received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Personal Services
Magna Cum Laude.
He married Renee Mary Theroux in 1977. Michael and Renee have one son, James N.
(Jacquelyn) Gerlach who resides in Santa Clara, California. James works for Next Issue
Media in the San Francisco Bay area as their Director of Design.
Michael and Renee have one daughter, Megan I. Gerlach of Long Beach, California, who
works as a Human Resources Generalist at Vans, a division of VF Corporation of Orange
County, CA.
After college Mike then worked for the Social Security Administration as a claims
representative for approximately five years where he received multiple sustained superior
performance awards.
Mike then attended the University of North Dakota School of Law graduating in 1987 with
Distinction where he was student co-director of the Legal Aid Clinic.
Michael and Renee then moved to Duluth and in 1992, with co-founding partner Steven J.
Running, established the law firm known today as Gerlach, Beaumier and Trogdon, Attorneys
at Law, LLP where for the last 25 years he concentrated his practice in estate and trust
planning and estate administration.
Michael was involved in a number of volunteer activities past and present which included the
following:
Chair Salvation Army Duluth Advisory Board
Trustee Ecumen (Minnesota's largest non-profit provider of housing for the elderly)
Chair Lakeshore Lutheran/Bayshore Homes Advisory Board
Chair Lakeshore Capital Campaign
Member, Lakeshore Home Ethics Committee
Chair Parish Council, St. Michael's Church Duluth
Chair Social Concerns Committee, St. Michael's Church Duluth
Lector, St. Michael's Church Duluth
Director, Board of Friends of University of Minnesota Library Duluth
Secretary/Treasurer, Knife River (Minnesota) Marina Yacht Club
Sixth Judicial District Volunteer Guardian ad Litem
Sixth Judicial District Volunteer Attorney Program
Mentor Big Brother Program
Board of Directors, Legal Aid of North Dakota

Co-Student Director, University of North Dakota Legal Aid Clinic
Member, American Legion Duluth School District Desegregation Committee
Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) Member, American/Local/State Bar Association.
Michael was an avid hunter, camper and fisherman. He considered his greatest achievement his 36 years of marriage to his beloved wife Renee and the love and pride he felt for his children.
Michael is preceded in death by his mother M. Lucille Gerlach (1980) of Fargo, ND and by his father James A. Gerlach (1987) of Fargo, ND. He was also preceded in death by his niece Crissie Gerlach (1974) of Moorhead, MN, his mother-in-law Phyllis J. Marchildon (1994) of Duluth, MN, his father-in-law Val F. Marchildon (2002) of Duluth, MN, his brother-in-law David Lester (1994) Fargo, ND, his good friend Michael B. Lien (1977) of Anapolis, MD, and his brother-in-law Mark Marchildon (2011) of Orlando, FL
Besides, his wife, Renee and his children, James (Jacquelyn) and Megan, Michael is survived by his sister Kathryn J. Lester of Fargo, ND, brother Patrick J. Gerlach
(Bernie) of Wing, ND, sister Ann Gerlach Ulmer (Jim) of Fraze, MN, sister Jane I. Williams
(Mark) of Fort Collins, CO, sister-in-law Janine M. Marchildon of Woodbury, MN, sister-in-law
Laura J. Saarela (Timothy) of Prior Lake, MN, sister-in-law Martha J. Wolff (Dean) of
Hermantown, MN, brother-in-law Michael J. Marchildon (Alicia) of Morion, IL, nephews and
nieces Jennifer Pepple, Stephanie Gerlach, Timothy Lester, Jesse Ulmer, Lacey Cobb,
Cody Williams, Matt Ulmer, and Ben Williams.

Visitation will be Tuesday July 2, 2013 starting 9:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. Michael's Church, 4901 E. Superior St. Duluth. In lieu of flowers donations to St. Michael's Catholic Church of Duluth, Minnesotan Endowment Fund or to the Duluth Salvation Army Hometown Endowment Fund.
Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home Duluth, (218) 727-3555.