1929
Lester
2016
Lester Gerig
December 4, 1929 — August 16, 2016
Lester “Les” Gerig, born on December 4, 1929 in Royal Oak, Michigan, passed away on August 16, 2016. Les lived his life with an energy, curiosity and positivity that brought smiles to the faces of his family and loved ones.
Les served honorably with the United States Marine Corps in the Korean War. After serving his country he attended the University of Indiana and graduated with a degree in business. He was an entrepreneur from the start. In the late 1950s he opened the successful Campus Hideaway pizza restaurant in Lawrence, Kansas, along with his lifelong friend and confidant Dave Hoffman. The first pizza restaurant west of the Mississippi, the Campus Hideaway became an institution for many students who remember it fondly. Les moved to Kansas City in the 1960s and opened The Red Onion restaurant and bar, which catered to professional singles and was extremely popular through the early 1970s.
In Prairie Village, Kansas, his two children, Graden “Grady” and Katchen Gerig were born and raised, and they and his grandchildren would continue to be the joy of his life. The time spent over the decades with his children in Kansas and New York along with that spent with their happy families in Colorado and Massachusetts brought him laughter and happiness.
Les’s entrepreneurial spirit continued to flourish as he opened two new McDonald’s restaurants in New York City in 1974, one in the Bronx and one in Yonkers. In New York City, his fascination with the arts and politics, along with his love of the stock market and the New York Times, would take permanent hold. He had a passion for politics and throughout his career he was a leader in government relations for McDonald’s having been instrumental in getting the McDonald’s McPAC started, which still supports many political candidates today.
Les’s remarkable talent with numbers played a big part in his professional and personal life. His success and love for the card game bridge was something to behold. Les became a Ruby Life Master of bridge with over 2,000 masterpoints, traveling the country to compete and returning home with national recognition. Les’s energy was not confined to the card table, he was also an avid golfer and tennis player.
Les eventually sold his successful McDonald’s restaurants in New York City and returned to the area to own and operate two McDonald’s stores in Kansas City, Kansas. He poured his talent and energy into developing his stores along with his managers and staff who came to adore him, continuing to look to him for guidance and friendship as they developed their own successful careers. Les was very involved in his community, serving on the Board of Directors for the original Ronald McDonald House of Kansas City.
Les married his wife Ferol in 2000 and they moved into a home in Leawood, Kansas, which would soon be filled with visits from their close friends, four children and eight beautiful grandchildren. These visits were filled with laughter, great barbeque, and fascinating discussions, always prodded along by the open-minded Grandpa Les, who was never afraid to interject a controversial topic. Les and Ferol would travel the country and the world with family and friends, filling their marriage and their families’ lives with joy.
Les was predeceased by his parents Dorothy and Lester Eli Gerig and his sister Nila Brose. He is survived by his wife Ferol, son Grady Gerig (Danika Gerig), daughter Katchen Gerig (Dan Wittner), their mother Gretchen Gerig, and grandchildren Caden Gerig, Adelyn Gerig, Gerig Wittner and Luc Wittner. He is also survived by Geoff Werth (Amanda Pezalla), Stacey Jones (James Jones), and grandchildren Rylie Jones, Ashley Jones, Felix Pezalla-Werth and Genevieve Pezalla-Werth.
Les’s family and friends’ hearts will forever be filled with his laughter and curiosity.
Cremation. Family memorial services.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities Kansas City:
Ronald McDonald House Charities Kansas City, Inc.
2502 Cherry Street, Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: 816.842.8321
https://www.rmhckc.org/donate
Les served honorably with the United States Marine Corps in the Korean War. After serving his country he attended the University of Indiana and graduated with a degree in business. He was an entrepreneur from the start. In the late 1950s he opened the successful Campus Hideaway pizza restaurant in Lawrence, Kansas, along with his lifelong friend and confidant Dave Hoffman. The first pizza restaurant west of the Mississippi, the Campus Hideaway became an institution for many students who remember it fondly. Les moved to Kansas City in the 1960s and opened The Red Onion restaurant and bar, which catered to professional singles and was extremely popular through the early 1970s.
In Prairie Village, Kansas, his two children, Graden “Grady” and Katchen Gerig were born and raised, and they and his grandchildren would continue to be the joy of his life. The time spent over the decades with his children in Kansas and New York along with that spent with their happy families in Colorado and Massachusetts brought him laughter and happiness.
Les’s entrepreneurial spirit continued to flourish as he opened two new McDonald’s restaurants in New York City in 1974, one in the Bronx and one in Yonkers. In New York City, his fascination with the arts and politics, along with his love of the stock market and the New York Times, would take permanent hold. He had a passion for politics and throughout his career he was a leader in government relations for McDonald’s having been instrumental in getting the McDonald’s McPAC started, which still supports many political candidates today.
Les’s remarkable talent with numbers played a big part in his professional and personal life. His success and love for the card game bridge was something to behold. Les became a Ruby Life Master of bridge with over 2,000 masterpoints, traveling the country to compete and returning home with national recognition. Les’s energy was not confined to the card table, he was also an avid golfer and tennis player.
Les eventually sold his successful McDonald’s restaurants in New York City and returned to the area to own and operate two McDonald’s stores in Kansas City, Kansas. He poured his talent and energy into developing his stores along with his managers and staff who came to adore him, continuing to look to him for guidance and friendship as they developed their own successful careers. Les was very involved in his community, serving on the Board of Directors for the original Ronald McDonald House of Kansas City.
Les married his wife Ferol in 2000 and they moved into a home in Leawood, Kansas, which would soon be filled with visits from their close friends, four children and eight beautiful grandchildren. These visits were filled with laughter, great barbeque, and fascinating discussions, always prodded along by the open-minded Grandpa Les, who was never afraid to interject a controversial topic. Les and Ferol would travel the country and the world with family and friends, filling their marriage and their families’ lives with joy.
Les was predeceased by his parents Dorothy and Lester Eli Gerig and his sister Nila Brose. He is survived by his wife Ferol, son Grady Gerig (Danika Gerig), daughter Katchen Gerig (Dan Wittner), their mother Gretchen Gerig, and grandchildren Caden Gerig, Adelyn Gerig, Gerig Wittner and Luc Wittner. He is also survived by Geoff Werth (Amanda Pezalla), Stacey Jones (James Jones), and grandchildren Rylie Jones, Ashley Jones, Felix Pezalla-Werth and Genevieve Pezalla-Werth.
Les’s family and friends’ hearts will forever be filled with his laughter and curiosity.
Cremation. Family memorial services.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities Kansas City:
Ronald McDonald House Charities Kansas City, Inc.
2502 Cherry Street, Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: 816.842.8321
https://www.rmhckc.org/donate
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