Gerhardt Eugene Pipho

Gerhardt Eugene Pipho was born in Sumner, Iowa, to Emma and Otto Pipho, the youngest of five children. At age 3, Gerhardt’s family moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado, where he played and fished along the South Platte River. When older, Gerhardt worked at Tieman’s grocery store stocking shelves and carrying heavy bags from the basement storage. This hard work would be a lifelong hallmark of Gerhardt, as would the 1950 mint green Ford Sedan that Otto Pipho bought from Pullen Motors in early 1950 and which he later restored.

Gerhardt enrolled at St John’s College in Winfield, Kansas, where he met a lively young woman from South Texas who found a way to meet him on a Sadie Hawkins date. They became inseparable, and by the time they graduated, Frances Lorene Richter had become Frances Pipho. They were married in 1952 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in McAllen, Texas. Gerhardt and Frances moved to Houston where both taught in the Lutheran schools, primarily at Bethany Lutheran. Gerhardt completed his degree at the University of Houston. During their 22 years of marriage, Gerhardt and Frances welcomed 2 sons, Randy and David, and 4 daughters, Doris, Sharon, Carolyn, and Kathy.

Gerhardt was a great role model, not just for his children and students, but also for the local Boy Scout troop where he was a leader. He spent many summers traveling to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico leading scouting groups or taking his family on road trips to explore the country and visit his parents in Colorado.

When Frances passed away in 1974 from cancer, Gerhardt married Thelma Louise Gilbreath and gained four more children. Louise was a loving mother and grandmother to the younger Pipho children and all of Gerhardt’s grandchildren.

Gary, as he was known by friends, was a fine carpenter and could build almost anything. During the summer school break, and after retiring from teaching, he worked odd jobs in carpentry and taught his boys the value of working with their hands and the skill of fixing just about anything. As grandpa, he always made time for his grandkids and loved nothing more than to have a house full of family, sharing meals, attending church services, and playing games.

Gerhardt was employed by Bethany Lutheran School for more than 20 years, teaching 5th and 8th grade and then serving as principal and assistant principal. He briefly moved the family to Colorado where he worked as an insurance salesman, among other things, and where Kathy graduated high school. Gerhardt returned to Houston in 1986 and worked for Trinity Klein Lutheran Church and School as principal and then administrator over facilities. By the time he retired, Gerhardt had more than 35 years of loyal service to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod through the school system.

After Louise passed away unexpectedly in 2007, Gerhardt met and married Fawn Milliken of Parker, Colorado, adding even more extended family. They spent their 14 years together split between Parker and Spring, Texas.

Gerhardt was preceded into Glory by his parents and siblings Malwin, Mildred, Arnold, and Bernice; wives Frances Richter Pipho, Louise Gilbreath Pipho, and Fawn Milliken; infant daughter Carolyn Pipho, daughter Doris Pipho Mitchell (Fred), and stepdaughter Betty Gilbreath. He is survived by children Sharon Pampell (Rodney), Randy Pipho (Priscilla), Kathy Puseman (Paul), and David Pipho (Tammy); stepchildren Tommy Gilbreath (Laura), Kenneth Gilbreath, and Terry Parson; grandchildren Lori Clark (Jeff), Alyssa Manis (Glen), Jessica Mitchell, James Mitchell, Jarrod Puseman (Mika), Andrew Puseman (Lauren), Carolyn, Chase, Juliana, Nate, and Dawson Pipho; great grandchildren Natalie and Hailey Manis; and several stepgrandchildren and great stepgrandchildren.

Gerhardt’s spirit as the faithful and loving man he was will live in the memory of all who miss and love him. The family would like to thank the staff at Stagecoach Senior Living for the love and care they showed to “Pappa” these last few years.

Services for Gerhardt will be held on Saturday, February 28 at Trinity Klein Lutheran Church, 5201 Spring Cypress Rd, Spring with 9:00 am visitation and 10:00 am service. Interment will follow at Earthman Resthaven Cemetery, 13102 North Frwy, Houston at 1:00 pm with a reception at noon.

The 1950 Ford is now owned by Andrew Puseman and is still driven in his memory.

Memorial contributions can be made to Trinity Klein Lutheran Church in Mr. Gerhardt E. Pipho's honor.