Robert K. "Pop-Pop" Gerne

Robert K. “Pop-Pop” Gerne, 85, passed away February 9, 2016 in Middletown, RI. Mr. Gerne was born in Hoboken, raised in Jersey City before moving to Belleville for 11 years and then Glen Ridge for 27 years and finally settling in The Fairways in Lakewood for the past 15 years. Robert earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Seton Hall University and a second graduate degree from Jersey City University. He served in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict as a Maintenance Specialist on the USS Bon Home Richard CV-31. Mr. Gerne worked as a Teacher in various schools in Wayne, NJ and as a Guidance Counselor for Wayne Valley High School. He was a member of the Caregivers Alzheimer’s Respite Care Program and the St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. Mary of the Lake Church in Lakewood. Pop-Pop was known for his gentle nature, integrity and being faithful to family, faith and country. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and uncle and will be greatly missed by all. Mr. Gerne is predeceased by his parents Dr. Timothy Gerne and Perpetua, brother, Timothy Gerne Jr. and son-in-law, Christopher Wodenshek. Robert is survived by his wife of 56 years, Claire, children, Claire Valente and her husband Jim, Robert K. Gerne II and his wife Brianne, Anne Wodenshek, Sean Gerne, Katie Gerne, and Christopher Gerne and his wife Alexandra, foster son, Sean Dynes and his wife Terry, daughter-in-law, Kara Gerne, grandchildren, Andrew Valente, Kaitlyn Hughes and her husband Steve, Kevin Valente, Mariko Valente, Rosie Valente, Riley Gerne, Morgan Gerne, Michael Gerne, Jack Gerne, Sarah Wodenshek, Haley Wodenshek, Mollie Wodenshek, William Wodenshek, Zachary Wodenshek, Jack Cannon, Luke Gerne, Billy Gerne and Kieran Gerne, great grandson, Logan Hughes, sister, Marie Stanton and her husband Reg, brother, Donald Gerne and his wife Sharon, and many beloved nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the D’Elia Funeral Home Rt. 70 & Vermont Ave. Lakewood, NJ 08701. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at 10:30AM at the Holy Family Church in Lakewood. Interment will take place at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veteran’s Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ. In lieu of flowers please make donations in Robert’s memory to the St. Vincent DePaul Society or the Caregivers of Central Jersey at www.caregivervolunteers.org.