William F. Gerckens

William K. Gerckens, 79, of Westfield, passed away on Monday July 22, 2013 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. William's visitation will be 4-7PM Thursday, today, July 25, at Gray Funeral Home, 318 E. Broad St., Westfield. His funeral mass will be celebrated at 9:30AM Friday July 26, 2013, at his parish church, The Church of St. Anne's, 325 Second Avenue, Garwood. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Westfield. Born in Hoboken, NJ, he was raised in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY, where he met and later married his high school sweetheart, Frances Caramico. He was the beloved son of the late Walter and Grete Gerckens, and dear brother of the late Victor Gerckens. William and his family moved to Westfield in 1972. He was hardworking, ambitious, and honorable, and always had a job after school. These were traits instilled into him by his parents. With many job offers coming to him, he accepted one from a plastic injection company, Anderson Tool and Die, where he worked for 30 years. He became very successful and acquired his own company, F.W. Plastics in Linden, NJ. William suffered a stroke in 1991, which caused him to become disabled and to lose his speech. Love of God and his family gave him the motivation to live another 22 ½ years. He greatly enjoyed spending time at his son's lake house in Lake Wallenpaupack, PA, and seeing his loving, caring, and wonderful family and grandchildren. He will be missed by his wife of 58 years, Frances, four sons: Ronald and wife Cindy, Michael and wife Anna, Karl and wife Lynn, Eric and wife Maria, 12 grandchildren: Adam, Jen, Josh, Travis, Mel, Gerhardt, Chris, Max, Ashley, Maria, Kurt, and Nicole, many nieces, and nephews, in-laws: Rose and Ray Caramico, dear friends Jo and Bart Ruggiero and all. In lieu of flowers, donations in Williams memory masy be made to the: Church of St. Anne's, 325 Second Ave, Garwood, NJ 07027 or to Atlantic Hospice. Go to www.grayfuneralhomes.com to offer condolences.