courtesy of the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home

John “Jack” Gerstbrein, 75, died Thursday, July 16, 2015 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Funeral mass will be held 10:30 A. M. Monday, July 20, 2015 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in West Liberty. Visitation will be held Sunday from 3:30 to 5:30 P.M. at the church. The Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com. A memorial fund has been established.

Jack was born November 12, 1939 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Louis Sr. and Barbara Gerstbrein. After graduation from high school, he joined the Navy and served as a hospital corpsman. He attended the clinical laboratory and blood bank school at the Naval Medical School in Bethesda, Maryland and served as a lab technician until his discharge in 1963. He was united in marriage to Linda Jeffers at the Naval Hospital chapel in Bethesda.

After his discharge from the navy he worked as a research microbiologist at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. In 1970 he moved to Durham, North Carolina where he attended the Physician Assistant Program at Duke University Medical School. Following graduation he came to Iowa where he was employed by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. He left UIHC to work at the Palmer Clinic for 8 years and then he returned to the University of Iowa Hospital Urology Dept. where he worked until his retirement in 2001.

He was cofounder of the Iowa Physician Assistant Society and served as president as well as a term as treasurer and member of the board of directors. He was a member of the West Liberty City Council from 1988 to 1993 and mayor from 1994 to 1999. He was active in volunteer work including serving as EMT and first responder instructor for the West Liberty and Nichols Fire Departments. He took his dog Harry to visit the residents of the Simpson Memorial Home every week until declining health made it necessary to discontinue the visits. He enjoyed woodworking and home remodeling projects.

He is survived by his wife Linda, sons Michael and John of Iowa City, James (Jean) of Cary, Illinois, Christopher (Annie) of Graettinger, Iowa and Jeffrey of Seattle, Washington. 3 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild and 12 nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Louis Jr, Robert and sister Barbara Camesi.