Kenneth F. Gerleman passed away at his home in Elmhurst on August 23, 2017. He was a Professional Engineer and Civil Engineering graduate of Illinois Institute of Technology in 1948, spent 28 years with the Clay Pipe Institute ending as Vice President of Technical Services, and 8 years with Chicago area consulting engineering firms (Consoer Townsend and Testing Service Corp.)
During the early 1970s, one of his personal accomplishments was to advocate and promote to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) the first use of highway noise barriers in Illinois; in particular for their need in conjunction with the proposed widening of the “Eisenhower Extension” (now I-290) between St. Charles road and the Northwestern Railroad, which abutted his home in Elmhurst. Since then, “barriers” are now considered for construction on many Illinois highway projects planned for congested residential areas.
He was active in many technical societies including the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers, American Society for Testing and Materials, American Public Works Association and as a Fellow in the American Society of Civil Engineers.
During WWII, Mr. Gerleman enlisted in the Army Air Force, attended fight pilot school, graduated and eventually piloted B-17’s and other multi-engine aircraft. He remained in the Reserves after the war, retiring as Major in 1984.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Nancy Belle Diamond Gerleman and leaves behind his current wife Judith Rice Gerleman; four stepchildren, Kenneth Rice, Paul (Iliana) Rice, Barbara (Mike) Beranis and Robert (Lisa) Rice; five grandchildren, Alexandra (Michael) Krueger, Lindsay Rice, Zackary Rice, Luke (Amanda) Beranis and Kurt Beranis; a great granddaughter, Elle Beranis; four nieces, Dr. Lynn Josephson, Gale Langelo, Marci Langford and Sally Shelby; a nephew, Tom Parsons; three great nieces; one great nephew and God son Roger (Linda) Weiss. Private Funeral Services. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the Alzheimer’s Association and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Funeral information provided by Ahlgrim Funeral Home. For more information, call 630-834-3515 or visit ahlgrim.com.
