Palle Gerlach, most loved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, died at age 78 on November 11, 2024, Veterans Day, at the Southern Utah Veterans Home in Ivins, UT.  He was born in Aalborg, Denmark October 19, 1946, to Aage "William" Gerlach and Inger Hansen Gerlach.  He had two older brothers, Willy and Vagn Gerlach and this special family immigrated to Utah in 1950.

Palle attended school in the Canyon Rim area of Salt Lake City and graduated from Skyline High School in 1965.  Palle enlisted in the Army Reserves and served active duty during the Vietnam War.  He was spared deployment to Vietnam but was trained and ready to go if called.

Palle married Connie Covert, and they had two children, Justin and Lisa Gerlach.  After their divorce he met and married the love of his life Ginger Gray on January 1, 1988. Ginger had two daughters, Lara and Michelle.  Palle and Ginger then began the great adventure of their life together with their four children.

After his service in the Army Palle began a lifelong career with the Sperry Rand Company (later to become L-3 Communications) where he worked in several capacities. He was a talented mechanical engineer technician who could fix and build anything.  He eventually helped set up and develop the company unit that fabricated the satellite dish antennas for the military drones that protect our country.  He travelled to many military bases in the USA and overseas, receiving numerous awards for this important work.  Palle loved his job and had many friends among his coworkers who he missed after his retirement in 2013.

Palle was very athletic and enjoyed playing basketball, skiing, running, biking and hiking.  He joined the running club at his work and participated in many races, often placing in the top three of his age group.  He even encouraged his wife and grandchildren to join him in a few races. He was a lifelong fan of the University of Utah Utes basketball and football teams and was always a "Utah Man."  He and Ginger both loved outdoor recreation and camping in tents and travel trailers.  They especially loved the beautiful red rock country of southern Utah where they camped, hiked and fished too many times to count.  They searched for the dark sky places where they could enjoy the splendor of God's wonderous celestial creation.  Palle was an avid rock and petrified wood collector and loved travelling into remote places to find his treasures, especially his famous Moki balls.

Ginger and Palle spent most of their married life at their Cottonwood Heights home, but when Palle retired in 2013 they decided to move to St. George UT for a better climate, the beautiful red rocks and the many outdoor activities available.   They loved their beautiful new home and the special and kind people of St. George.

Palle and Ginger fell in love with Hawaii after their first trip to Maui right after they married.  They began returning to the islands every year after that, visiting all the islands many times.  It was their happy place.  Palle loved snorkeling and collecting shells and coral.  He spent hours in the ocean searching for just the right ones.

Palle was able to return to Denmark in 2013 when his brother Willy arranged a trip so Palle could visit Aalborg where he was born and meet relatives of his father who still lived there.  It was a most memorable experience for Palle who was very proud of his Danish heritage. He could speak Danish and often entertained us with many funny sayings.  Palle had such a cute personality.  He was kind, gentle and shy.  He had that great Danish sense of humor and could easily make people laugh. He never lost the kid inside of himself and loved to play with and entertain the kids, especially showing them how to make and fly paper airplanes.

Palle and Ginger's only grandkids were from Ginger's oldest daughter Lara.  They had so many fun times with them camping, hiking, fishing but most of all hanging out at the Cottonwood Heights swimming pool.  Palle dearly loved all his family and being together as often as possible over the years.  We all loved him and will miss him so very much.

Palle is survived by his wife, Ginger; his brothers: Willy (Linda) Gerlach and Vagn Gerlach; his children: Justin and Lisa Gerlach; his stepdaughter, Lara Mattulat Sheely; grandchildren: Steven Mattulat, Samantha Poli (Nick), Michael Sheely and Virginia Sheely; seven great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Aage and Inger Gerlach; younger brother, Glen Gerlach; and stepdaughter, Michelle Mattulat Edgar.

A celebration of Palle's wonderful life will be held on Friday December 6, 2024, at noon at the McDougal Gathering Hall (just north of the McDougal Funeral Home) at 4306 South Redwood Road, Taylorsville, UT 84123.

Palle will be interred at the Tonaquint Cremation Garden in St. George UT.