Gerald Richard Faber, age 67, of Beal City went to join the Lord after a 6 1/2 month battle with cancer on Monday, August 29, 2016, at his home under the care of Mid Michigan Hospice.

A Funeral Mass for Gerald will be held at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church on Friday, September 2, at 10 a.m. with Fr. Ricky Varner officiating. A Luncheon will follow in the Knights of Columbus Hall. The family will receive friends at the church on Thursday, September 1, from 2 to 8 p.m. with a Vigil for Gerald at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church the day of the service from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph School or St. Joseph Church. Envelopes will be available at Clark Family Funeral Chapel and the church.

Gerald was born on November 10, 1948, in Mt. Pleasant, the son of Gerald N. and Veronica (Little) Faber. He attended St. Joseph the Worker School in Beal City, graduating in 1966 from Beal City High School. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1969. He was promoted to Sargent and served in the Vietnam War. When a young college student, Carol Kalmar of Shepherd, saw his name in the "Write to your serviceman" column of the paper, she sent him a letter. After a year of correspondence he looked her up when he was discharged and they were married on August 3, 1973, at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Shepherd. The two of them enjoyed 43 years together.

Gerald enjoyed farming and was a farmer at heart. He worked as a nurse supervisor at the Mt. Pleasant Regional Center for 31 years retiring in 2001. After retirement, Gerald and Carol purchased the Shepherd IGA. He enjoyed the Shepherd Community and the business for 7 years, making many wonderful friends. He was always supportive of Carol's teaching endeavors; sending her letters and flowers through "We Deliver" school postal service, attending plays, and offering encouragement. He was a member of the Eagle's in Weidman, Knights of Columbus, and a parishioner at St. Joseph Church. Gerald enjoyed hunting and fishing with his buddies, family, and especially his grandkids. He was a picker, always looking for unique treasures and antiques. He enjoyed going to yard sales with Carol, but he never parted with anything. He enjoyed spending time at his cottage at Houghton Lake. They traveled to Kenya, Africa, for 5 weeks and were just starting to spend winters in Crystal River, FL. They spent 9 days on the East Coast of Maine earlier this month. He will be remembered by the many lives he touched for his Tarzan calls, practical jokes, humor, and card playing.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Carol; children, Gregory (Amy) Faber, Rebecca (Cameron) Reihl, Tonya (David) Macharia, Amanda (Elton) DuBois, and Gerald "Andy" (Megan Anton) Faber; 13 grandchildren, Rand, Isabelle, Donelda, Jaden, Isaiah, Taya, David, Devin, Derrick, Donovon, Zach, Josh, and Jacob; 3 brothers, John (Laura) Faber, Tom (Gwen) Faber, and Joe (Marcie) Faber; and 4 sisters, Bonnie Unwin, Mary (Ken) Moss, Barb (Doug) Theilen, and Jane (Al) Loomis.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Jim Unwin.

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