Kyle Addison Gerkensmeyer

Kyle Gerkensmeyer, of Ventura was born on May 25, 1993, and was taken from us on January 14, 2011 after an extremely brave year and a half long battle with cancer. He never looked to blame his condition to keep him from doing the things he loved, but sometimes the energy or health just could not support his active lifestyle.

With cancer, the treatment is as bad as the disease, and he overcame so much to be the man he was.

Kyle, is survived by his sister Lexi, Mother Shawn, Father Don, and a far reaching, close knit family of aunts Carrie, Laura, Linda, Diana, and Marilyn… Uncles Ray, Mike, Jim, Chuck, Skip… and a loving Grand Father Papa. Making his life bearable for the last 10 months was his true love, Larissa, who gambled with her heart on this magnificently strong young man.

Preceding Kyle in death was his sister Shelby, his grandmother Cokie, his grandmother Caudie, and his beloved pet dog Toffee.

A student at Buena High School, Kyle had his roots in drumline, metal shop, and stagecraft. Not one to be stagnant, he was always moving and working with his hands as well as his brains. His passion was riding his dirt bike, he never could get enough. His ambitions were to go on in the field of what he truly loved, and make anything to do with motorcycling his career.

Throughout his life, he accomplished many things. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout Troop 143, becoming a leader of other young minds, showing them the way to use their own skills to excel. His Eagle project included organizing and landscaping City Fire House 1 on Ventura Ave. For a short time even throughout his illness, he was accepted to County Fire Station 52 as a cadet, though if he could not perform to his own personal standard of 110%, he had to take the time to recuperate.

He loved camping and the great outdoors… the video game console sat unused. He enjoyed just sleeping out under the stars, instead of in a tent. But he also enjoyed our family outings in a travel trailer. There is no river or moving body of water that he did not dam up or attempt to…

Though we have always been very proud of Kyle, we are so touched by the remembrances we have received from others who knew him and some who barely knew him but he affected so positively.

Some of us live a hundred years and accomplish so little, and some live only a few and conquer the world.

We are planning a “Celebration of Kyle’s Life” on Sunday January 30th, to be held at Arnaz Program Center, 155 Sulpher Mtn. Rd. Casitas Springs, at 4pm. For more details and contact information please view the website http://celebrate-kyle.home.mindspring.com/

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral home and Crematory, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be left at www.TedMayrFuneralHome.com.