Larry P. Gerstner

Larry P. Gerstner passed away peacefully after an 18 year struggle with cancer. 

Born on September 2, 1947 in Columbus, Ohio, Larry was the son of the late Mettajean (Dickey) Gerstner and the late David A. Gerstner. He was also preceded in death by a brother Richard (Dickey) Gerstner whom he never got to meet and his devoted Golden Retriever Annie.

Larry is survived by his wife, Joyce Gerstner, who was always at his side during the many years of cancer and other treatments; three sisters Susan Picker (Jerry Picker) of Columbus, Linda Berteau (Paul Berteau) of Evergreen, Colorado, and Nancy Leggett (Bill Leggett) of Columbus; two stepchildren Jason Thornton (Sandy Thornton) of Salem, Oregon and Christina Smith (Don Smith) of Logan; and three step grandchildren Katelynn Walker of Logan, Sierra Mitchell of Logan, and Elizabeth Thornton of Salem, Oregon. Larry cherished the time he spent talking with his wife's great uncle Norman Borloug, the man who kept the world from starvation.

Larry attended Hilliard High School and the University of Cincinnati where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Larry joined the Peace Corps in 1971 and spent three years in the Kingdom of Tonga in charge of road and airport construction and maintenance for the country. He moved to Hocking County in 1974 and has been a resident ever since, loving the Hocking Hills. He obtained his registered Engineer and Surveyor licenses. In 1976 he was elected Hocking County Engineer serving during some of the worst winter storms in recent memory.

His great pleasure was in finding the need for new business enterprises and starting up these new businesses. He was a founding partner in the Hocking Valley Canoe Livery, Earth Works Construction, the Bookstore of Logan, the Olde Dutch Restaurant, Wild Zipline Safari, and Zippers Georgia. Up until his death he was still working as a founding partner in Larry P. Gerstner, Engineering and Surveying; Hocking Hills Properties; Midwest Glassware Outlet; Scott Creek Subdivision; Hocking Hills Canopy Tours; Venture in Real Estate, the Worthington of Logan hotel, and Freedom Hills subdivision. He also was a partner in Windy Hills Golf Course, the Columbus Washboard Company since its move to Logan in 1999, and the Hocking Hills Winery. He was even a May Kay cosmetic independent beauty consultant.

Larry physically surveyed many of the hills of Hocking County and always realized its tourism potential. His many business start ups helped build the county's tourism industry and employed many local people. Yet his most proud accomplishment was in transforming a swamp in West Logan into Mingo Park for the recreation needs of the youth of the community.

Larry had served as a board member for the Hocking Hills Tourism Association, the Hide-A-Way Hills Club, Brighten Your Future, Lake Logan Association, and Logan Theater. 

He started skiing on the first day commercial snow skiing opened in Ohio at age 13, Larry has continued his love of downhill skiing right up until his death. Since traveling around the world in 1974 he managed to cover most of the globe in his frequent travels.

A celebration of Larry’s remarkable life will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at the Worthington of Logan, 72 W. Second St., Logan. Friends and family may visit from 12 pm to 4 pm, with a few words of remembrance at 1:00 pm. Arrangements are by the Cardaras Funeral Home, 183 E. Second St, Logan.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Logan Theater.

Please sign his online guestbook at www.cardaras.com