The Rotary Club of Forest Grove remembers our friend and fellow Rotarian, Jerry Hoerber, who passed away on January 13, 2022.

Jerry was a member of the Rotary Club of Forest Grove since 1989. He started and chaired the club’s semi-annual cleanups of Gales Creek Road and Thatcher Road, a project that has endured over 25 years and was very active with the Concours d’Elegance.

Jerry will be interred in a private service at Willamette National Cemetery and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Gerald Frederic Hoerber was born December 18, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of the late Frederic Hoerber and Ethel (Kohl) Hoerber. He was raised and received his education in Chicago, having been a graduate of the Niles Township Community High School Class of 1951. After graduation, Jerry attended Colorado State College in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he received his Bachelor of Science in forest utilization in 1957. He went to the University of Washington where he received his Master’s degree in forestry in 1960. In 1970 he received his Master’s of business administration from Simon Fraser University.

Jerry was united in marriage to Margaret A. DePuydt in June 1959 in Seattle, Washington. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary this past June. Following their marriage, they made their home in Lewiston, Idaho, Indianapolis, Indiana, and finally Tsawwassen, British Columbia. In 1986 they moved to Oregon, settling in the Forest Grove community, where they have resided since.

He had worked in research and development in the Forest Products Industry, for Forest Fiber (later becoming Stimson Lumber Company) in Gaston, for 13 years, until he retired.

Jerry was an active member of the Forest Grove United Methodist Church, a key member and past president of the Rotary Club of Forest Grove. He organized and headed the quarterly road cleanup on Gales Creek Road and Thatcher Road for Rotary for 28 years. After the Rotary pick-ups were done, he would then go on to do more stretch of the road, by himself, and he continued to do all those cleanups until he was 85.

As a longtime member and past President of Valley Art, he would take on almost any job, stepping up wherever he saw a need. Jerry was also a tireless volunteer for the West Tuality chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Jerry enjoyed running almost his entire life and ran almost daily in and around Forest Grove, continuing until he was 86. He volunteered for Valley Art, built houses for Habitat for Humanity, and spent years reading with kids for the S.M.A.R.T. reading program.

He was preceded in death by his parents Frederic and Ethel Hoerber; his sister, Rosemary Petersen and his son, Frederic Hoerber. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, his daughters, Lynn (John) and Anne (Terry) and his son, James.

The family suggests that remembrances may be contributions to the Forest Grove United Methodist Church, 1726 Cedar Street, Forest Grove, Oregon 97116 or to Valley Art Association, PO Box 333, Forest Grove, Oregon 97116 or to West Tuality Habitat for Humanity of Washington County, PO Box 806, Forest Grove, Oregon 97116, in his memory.