Gerald W. Tate

Gerald W. Tate, 75, of Lambertville, MI, passed away at Toledo Hospital, Monday, May 23, 2022, with his wife and his daughter by his side.

Gerald was born on September 15, 1946, in Portland, Maine, where he lived until the age of seven when his family relocated to Ohio. In 1964, Gerald joined the Army where he served as a rifleman for three years. On June 29, 1968, he married Carol Jean Steger in Toledo, Ohio. Gerald worked for Conrail out of Toledo for 25 years and then as a security guard for Jeep for a number of years.

Throughout his life, Gerald found his greatest joy in spending time with family and in serving at Lewis Ave. Baptist Church where he attended for fifty years. During the early years at LABC he served as a youth leader and sang in the choir. In 1975 he began working in the bus ministry picking up children and teens for church on Bus #3 every Sunday morning and helping out in the garage servicing the buses. This was his passion until his health no longer permitted him to do so in the early 90's. However, Gerald did not allow his poor health to keep him from serving. During the years that followed he served in the A/V department of the church video-recording services, served as a greeter and usher, and even prepared coffee for the Primer Timers Sunday School class every Sunday morning until just a few months ago.

Gerald was also actively involved in State Line Christian School (a ministry of Lewis Ave. Baptist Church) where his wife served as the school secretary for over 40 years and where both of his children attended from the age of four. Besides helping out with light maintenance when there was a need, Gerald set up the concession stand and took money at the door for the school's sporting events for 35 years. His passion for seeing young people develop their talents and grow in their love for the Lord never waned. Truly, he looked at all of the young people that he had the opportunity to interact with over the years as extensions of his own family--delighted to watch them grow up and start families of their own.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Carol J. Tate; his son, Tim (Cindy) Tate; his daughter, Ann (Larry) Rill; four grandchildren, Julianna, McKinley, and Thaddeus Tate, and Lyla Rill; and his brothers Clifford and Bruce Tate. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Ida, his sisters Bonita and Patricia, and his brothers Lawrence and William.

The family will receive guests on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. from Newcomer Funeral Home – Northwest Chapel, 4150 W. Laskey Rd., Toledo (419-473-0300). Funeral Services will begin Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Lewis Avenue Baptist Church, 6320 Lewis Ave., Temperance, MI 48182 with visitation in church from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider Lewis Avenue Baptist Church.

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