David J Gerhart

February 26, 1960 ~ March 3, 2022

Our beloved David J Gerhart died peacefully at home March 3, 2022, following a long, hard-fought, and extremely private battle with cancer. He was born on February 26, 1960 in Algoma, son of the late Peter A. Gerhart and Sharon A. (Churches) (Gerhart) Erwin and stepson of Marshall “Bobby” Erwin.

David grew up in Little Harbor, in a very loving family with a strong Great Lakes maritime history and developed early on a lifelong love of the Great Lakes freighters, sunsets on the water, and everything nautical. He was very proud to have spent many summers captaining “The Major” for the Diebel family and to traverse his beloved Lake Michigan and surrounding waters and liked nothing better than to hop into his own boat and cruise after work and on weekends.

David was a very creative person who was able to fix, solve, adapt, imagine, and create anything, simply using his imagination and parts and scraps he had collected.  He was an incredible model car and boat builder. He designed and built a large state-of-the-art Carrera slot car track, at which he enjoyed many Saturdays racing with his dear friends, Bill and Ed, and brother, Rick. Collecting vintage toys, cars, and trucks was a favorite hobby, and he took great joy repurposing them into creative and useful things around the house. He also loved finding and collecting toys and glassware that he remembered being stocked at his grandparents’ Gerhart Hardware Store in Algoma, a place that held very special memories for him.

David married the love of his life, Cindy LaCrosse, on July 6, 2013 at their home in Little Harbor, gaining two stepsons, a daughter-in-law, and a beloved granddaughter. He is survived by his wife, Cindy; stepson, Levon (Breann) LaCrosse and their daughter, Hadley, of Algoma, and stepson, Tyler LaCrosse of Sturgeon Bay. He is also survived by his brothers, Rick (Lisa) Gerhart of Sturgeon Bay and Derick “Bugsy” (Maitri) Erwin of Houston, TX; brothers-in-law, Mike (Janis) Piety of Shelly, ID, Steve (Sue) Harding of Littleton, CO, and David (Jennifer) Harding of Alameda, CA; and mother-in-law, Mary Ann Harding of Sturgeon Bay. David is further survived by his aunts, Candy (Al) Thornton of Casco and Dolly (Bob) Hafeman of Algoma, and their families and extended families; and close friends, Leslie (Rick) Diebel Murray, Johnny Diebel, and Johnny (Shelly) Dugan.

David’s journey was extremely personal, and to honor his wishes, there will be no funeral. A celebration of David’s lift will be held this summer in Little Harbor. Memorials may be given in his name to Door Cancer, Inc., St. Jude’s Hospital, or Shriners Hospital.

A special heartfelt thanks to Green Bay Oncology and Unity Hospice, especially Dr. Jaslowski, Eric Danihel PA, Heather RN, and all the nurses who provided such caring and compassionate care; Chaplain Mark, Jennie, and Door County Medical Center for their support of Cindy to be able to stay home to care for her husband; David’s race crew and dear friends/family, Bill (Julie) Karnopp and Ed Anschutz, and brothers, Rick and Bugsy: hold dear how much he loved you and cherished your friendship and gift of time. You were truly the wind beneath his wings on this journey.

Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door County Crematory LLC of Sturgeon Bay are assisting the Gerhart family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Dave may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.