William E. “Bud” Gerard, 88, Atchison, Kansas, died Thursday, March 5, 2015, at his residence.

Memorial services will be Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. at Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home with Rev. Russ Cooper officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memory Gardens. Visitation with the family will be Thursday for one hour prior to the services. Memorial contributions are suggested to First Christian Church or American Heart Association and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Bud was born July 4, 1926, in Atchison, Kansas, the son of Louis E. and Ruby Scarcliff Gerard. He attended Franklin Elementary School and graduated from Atchison High School.

He and Dorothy J. Day were united in marriage on August 12, 1944, in Atchison, Kansas. Mrs. Gerard preceded him in death on June 9, 1999.

Bud served in the United States Navy from 1944 until his honorable discharge on March 4, 1946.

During high school Bud became employed with the Pillsbury Company serving as a maintenance specialist until his retirement on February 1, 1987.

He was a member of the First Christian Church, Active Lodge 158, having served as Master, the York Rite Bodies, and the Order of Eastern Star - Martha Washington Chapter, having served as a Past Patron. Bud enjoyed his family, fishing and gardening.

Survivors include two daughters, Carol J. Gerard, Pratt, KS, Diana L. Terry and her life partner, Dennis F. Petesch, Atchison, KS, three granddaughters, Heather Pickering, Beth Brown and fiance’ Rudy Charnick, Julie Gilliland, ten grandchildren, Darrian Pickering, Payton Pickering, Gage Pickering, Ashli Brown, Tiana Burke, Jack Burke, Timothy Burke, Billie Loucks, Dana Loucks, Cole Loucks and a great great granddaughter, Rylan Wilson Brown.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Louis E. Gerard, Jr.