Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home
4800 E Indian School Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85018
(602) 840-5600
info@whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com
  • Home
  • About
    • History
    • Map & Directions
    • Our Facility
    • Staff Directory
  • Obits
  • Funeral & Cremation Services
    • Funeral & Cremation Options
    • Personalizing Services
  • Merchandise
  • Preplan
    • Preplan Online Now
  • Aftercare
  • Flowers
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
    • FAQ
    • Social Security Benefits
    • Veterans Benefits
  • Tour
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • Contact

GERSTER, JOSEF JAKOB M.D.

June 23, 2015 7 Condolences

GERSTER,

Dr. Josef Jakob Gerster, loving husband and beloved father, passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 21st, 2015. Dr. Gerster was a long-time resident of the Valley, practicing internal medicine and cardiology in Scottsdale while raising a family in the growing Town of Paradise Valley.   He was born August 28th of 1923 in Saarbrücken, Germany, the oldest of four children born to Jakob and Maria Gerster. As a young man, he was initially interested in a career as a diplomat, and so he enlisted in an officer training program in the German Army when he was 18, choosing to serve under the command staff of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps. By the time he arrived in North Africa, he was needed instead on the front lines, and he served in Libya, Sardinia and Corsica before finally being captured in a small town in Italy in November of 1943.   For the remainder of the war he was interred as a POW at a large camp in Atlanta, Nebraska, where his previously unknown ability to identify the Malaria virus under a microscope earned him a coveted job in the camp hospital under the guidance of U.S. Army medical staff. He left with a gifted copy of Gray’s Anatomy and aspirations for a new career in medicine.   After completing his university and medical school education in France and Germany after the war, he did his internship at the U.S. Army Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany. In August of 1957, during a brief trip back to Frankfurt to visit friends before starting his residency in the United States, he met Dr. Carolyn Taylor, Army captain and medical resident, and thus began a whirlwind, international courtship that culminated with an accepted proposal in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was scheduled to complete his residency in the field of cardiology.   They were married in February of 1958, in Portland, Oregon, and moved to the growing town of Phoenix in 1959, where they built a home, started a practice, and raised five sons. During his long medical career, he served as the head of cardiology for Scottsdale Memorial Hospital and was a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. He and Carolyn enjoyed travelling extensively throughout the world, especially to the exotic locales, and he always remained an avid lover of history and politics, never quite shaking his original diplomatic aspirations. His gentleman’s demeanor, always classic sartorial style, and the German accent and idioms he could never quite shake, made him iconic to co-workers, friends and family, and so he will be remembered and missed.   He is survived by Carolyn, his wife of 57 years, and sons John, Eric, Kurt, Mark, and Karl, ten grandchildren, and a host of relatives in Germany and abroad. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Hospice of the Valley at hov.org. Memorial Mass will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, June 26th, 2015 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 7655 E. Main Street in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Offer Hugs From Home Condolence for the family of GERSTER, JOSEF JAKOB M.D.

Print Obituary & Condolences Print Obituary & Condolences

Filed Under: Obituary

Condolence Messages

  1. Andreas Kappenhagen

    June 24, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    I am so saddened by his passing but hopefully myself and my staff at Paradise Valley Country Club were able to provide culinary and social memories for himself, his wife and the entire Gerster family. Dr. Gerster was a regular guest attending our festive holiday events as well as having many luncheons at the Dining Room. As a fellow German, it was always nice chatting a bit in our native language. Rest in peace, Dr. Gerster.
    Andreas

  2. Jim and Sandy Bruner

    June 24, 2015 at 3:25 pm

    We were very sorry to learn of his death. We knew Joe and Carolyn through many of their activities in Scottsdale and enjoyed their friendship. They always had smiles on their faces. They will be missed.

    Jim and Sandy Bruner

  3. Robin Snyder

    June 24, 2015 at 4:35 pm

    Please accept our condolences, as we always enjoyed seeing him at the club with your Mom. He was ever the gentleman, opening doors and waiting patiently for people as they passed through. It was obvious to all who saw your parents the great affinity they had for each other and for life. Your Dad will be missed, but warmly remembered in our hearts.

    Fondly,
    Robin Dunlap Snyder

  4. Scott Siggins

    June 25, 2015 at 8:26 am

    We’ve lived next door to Dr. Joe since 1968. He will be missed. Our thoughts are with your family. The Siggins family.

  5. Barbara Dunlap

    June 26, 2015 at 8:42 am

    Sending Dr. Carolyn lots of love in the midst of the loss of her lifetime partner… at home and at work.

  6. pat noll

    June 26, 2015 at 11:40 am

    jean head called me and requested that I extend her sympathy with love. She is unable to attend the funeral
    however, her thoughts are with you.
    I wish also to tell you that I and my family (paul & michael) are keeping you and your husband in our prayers.we send you our love and sympathy. with love, pat

  7. Tom Mattioni

    June 26, 2015 at 10:46 pm

    I had the great pleasure of working with Dr. Gerster as one of his consulting physicians in Scottsdale. I will miss him greatly and found him to be an inspiration. He had a long and successful career as a highly respected cardiologist and always made sure his patients received the best care. We lost a great member of our healthcare community and were very lucky to have benefitted from his skills over so many years.

Leave Your Hugs From Home Condolence

Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields

Order Flowers

AZ Expressions

Talk of a Lifetime

Share this Obituary

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Share Us Feedback

Tell us about your Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home experience

Leave Us a Review

Order Flowers

AZ Expressions

Phoenix, AZ & Area Weather

Phoenix, AZ
February 3, 2023, 4:07 pm
Mostly cloudy
Mostly cloudy
73°F
sunrise: 7:22 am
sunset: 6:00 pm
 

Follow us on:

  • Facebook
  • RSS

Copyright © 2023 | Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E Indian School Rd Phoenix, AZ 85018 | Phone: (602) 840 5600 | Email: info@whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com

Contact | Directions | Obituaries | Funeral Pre-Planning | Site Map | Phoenix AZ: Funeral Home & Cremation Services | Website by FRM Websites