Gerald A. Seevers

GERALD A. SEEVERS OBITUARYGerald Allen Seevers, 87, died Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at Northwest Community Hospital/Journey Care Hospice in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He was a long-time resident of Arlington Heights and an active member of St. Peter Lutheran Church. He was born on June 20, 1928 in Gregory, South Dakota to Otto and Erna Ella Augusta (nee Schultz) Seevers.Gerald was also known as "Mr. Seevers" to an untold number of children in the course of his career, working as a Lutheran teacher and principal for 43 years before retiring. After graduating from Concordia Teacher"s College in Seward, Nebraska in 1950, he accepted a call to teach first grade at St. Paul"s Lutheran School in Hammond, Indiana for three years before moving to San Francisco, California, where he started a new school for Grace Lutheran Church there. In 1956 he was called to start a new school in San Mateo, California, also called Grace Lutheran School, serving for 11 years as principal and teacher. In 1967 he moved his family to Arlington Heights, Illinois where he eventually became principal at St. Peter"s Lutheran School. With unusually balanced right brain-left brain abilities, he was as comfortable teaching science as he was designing banners for the school Christmas services. He built school curriculum and coached volleyball, taught adult Bible Class and played the organ, directed junior high dramas and constructed a weather station. In 1980 he was awarded Alumnus of the Year by Concordia Teacher"s College in Seward, Nebraska.Also known as "Jerry", he finished his career in 1993 to spend more than 20 years in retirement, keeping busy as a Shaklee distributor, learning to play the acoustic guitar, golfing at every opportunity, qualifying as an amateur "Ham" radio operator, and keeping up with an increasing number of birthday cards to be sent every year. Lifetime interests/accomplishments included bird-watching, photography, drawing, painting and silk screening, and astronomy, as he built his own reflector telescope, grinding his own mirror from a blank of solid glass.Gerald is survived by his wife of 19 years Joan Seevers (nee Nuechterlein); his children Mark Jonathon (Mary) Seevers, Hilde Marie Seevers, Christine Jean (Robert) Halberg, John Gerald (Tammy) Seevers, Kelleen Joan (Jeffrey) Thut, John Curtis (Renee) Holland, David Allen (Jodi) Seevers, Michael Andrew (Jenny) Seevers; his grandchildren Charles Daniel (Katriona) Seevers, James Michael (Melissa) Seevers, Benjamin Paul Seevers, Alicia Marie (Jared) Delzell, Eric Michael Seevers, Zoe Joy Seevers, Miles David Seevers, Sean Michael Kuhl, Gabrielle Kathleen Kuhl, Matthew Richard (Sara) Compton, Andrew Jeffrey (Jackie) Thut, Ryan Charles Thut, Lauren Kelleen (Matthew) Thut, Lindsey Anne Thut, Tyler Jon Thut, Alexandria Joan (Michael) Holland and Erin Michelle Holland; his great grandchildren, Nico, Phoenix, Wynter Moon, Addison, Taylor, Sayge, his siblings Darlene (the late Vernon and Richard) Luehring, Joanne (Richard) Zutz and Tom (Connie) Seevers. His sister in law Doris Seevers.He was preceded in death by his wife Alice Valeria (nee Steyer) Seevers; wife Phyllis Esther (nee Knueppel) Seevers; son Paul Martin Seevers; grandson Brandon Jeffrey Compton; brother Kenneth Seevers, his infant sister Ruth and his above-mentioned parents.Visitation from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Friday, June 17, 2016 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 111 W. Olive St., Arlington Heights, Illinois and from 10:00 am until time of funeral service 11:00 am, Saturday, June 18, 2016 at St. Peter Lutheran Church. Private interment at St. Peter"s Lutheran Church Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Peter Lutheran School. For further information, visit www.GlueckertFH.com or call (847)253-0168.