Gerhard "Blackie" Kalitzki Obituary (1930

Gerhard (Blackie) Kalitzki, 85, died Thursday, May 12, 2016 at the Carlisle Care Center after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease form of dementia. Blackie is survived by his wife, Betty Mills of Des Moines and his four children; Garry Kalitzki and wife Becky of Indianola and their sons, Ryan & Alex; Gina and husband Jeff Brandt of Branson, MO, their son Michael and wife Breanna, and daughter Kaethe; Ginger and husband Stephen Simoens of Pompano Beach, FL and their son, Brett; Glenda Kalitzki of Inverness, FL and her daughter, Hailey; his former wife of 30 years and mother of their children, Gisela Vos of Inverness, FL; his sister Waltraud Hardt of Werdohl, Germany; family members in Palm Bay, FL and Germany; and many extended family members. Born in Wohlau, East Prussia (Germany) on July 28, 1930, Blackie survived the war with his mother and sister, relocating to Werhdohl, Germany where he met and married Gisela. Together they courageously immigrated to the United States in 1956. At the end of his professional wrestling career during which he traveled the eastern part of the US, Blackie and his new family settled in Lacona, IA in the early 1960's. Blackie quickly became deeply involved in the community where he served as a Marshall and was part of the volunteer fire department for many years. His passions, horses and metalworking turned into his ownership of a horse farm near town and eventually he purchased the blacksmith shop where he started manufacturing custom wood-burning stoves as The Lacona Stove Works. Blackie's community involvement included the Za Ga Zig Shriner's Mounties Unit (parade horse unit), the Des Moines German-American Club, the Croatian Club of Des Moines, and years of involvement at the Iowa State Fair during part of which he served as the superintendent of horse barns. Blackie loved sharing his joy of horses with anyone who was interested, laughing and visiting with his new friends and really enjoyed reigniting old friendships. He will be greatly missed by his family and by the many friends who have come to know and love him over the years. Memorials may be made to The Alzheimers Foundation. Memorial Services will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at Peterson Funeral Home, 415 School St., Carlisle, IA. Online condolences can be made to www.petersonfuneralservice.com