Myron C. Gerig, 72, died on January 31, 2025 due to an accident with a car on which he was working.

He was born on August 19, 1952, the first of five children born to Clarence and Doris Gerig.

Myron lived in the local area his entire life, graduating from Albany Union High School in 1971.  He did not like school.  He recently commented, with a grin and a chuckle, that if it were not for shop classes he would never have graduated.

He was baptized as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ when he was young. His faith was what guided him through his life.  Most recently he attended New Hope Church in Lebanon.

On October 18, 1974  Myron married Eunice Zook.  They have two children, Ryan and Victoria, and one granddaughter, Paris.  Paris looked to grandpa as her daddy, having spent almost her entire life as a part of his household.

Myron is survived by his wife, Eunice, son Ryan (Jennifer), daughter Victoria Gerig, granddaughter Paris, mother Doris, siblings Lois Gerig, Sharlene Schmucker (Ron), Gerald and Delbert, numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and in-laws.  He was preceded in death by his father, a grandson, and two   nephews.

Beginning when he was a boy and continuing into his teen years Myron worked in the summers for his grandpa, Kenneth Sherfy, helping with the grass seed harvest and farming.  When he was in high school he began working at OK Tire Store, eventually learning and taking over the front end alignment technician position. He left there and began working in the shop at Berg Dodge, AMC, Jeep, which became Buchan and Sons Chrysler Plymouth Dodge. Leaving there he went back to front end alignments at Les Schwab Tire Center.  And finally he was able to realize his dream when he opened his own shop, Midway Rod and Custom.  It was at this business that his talent working with cars really shown.  He did everything from normal repairs to paint jobs to total restorations to building street rods.  His knowledge about so many different makes and models of cars was astounding.

Cars were Myron's life and livelihood. With his earnings from his grandpa he was able to buy model car kits and build his first cars.  The first vehicle he bought was a 1931 Ford Model A.  He got it home and took the fenders off intending to make a rod out of it. His dad put an immediate stop to that plan so he so he was confined to a low horsepower vehicle for the time being.    A couple of years later he sold it and acquired his first muscle car and there was no looking back.  It was a butternut yellow 1967 Camaro RS/SS with a black vinyl top and black stripe.  In 1973 he bought his first new car, a Tahitian gold 1973 Duster 340.  Stock just didn't cut it and two days later the modifications began.  Headers and Cragar wheels were the first changes.  He repainted it black at one point, but a few years ago he painted it again, returning it to the original color.

Over the years he has owned so many muscle cars we couldn't list them all.  Some of our favorites were the 1969 340 Dart, 1969 Camaro Z28, and the 1969 Roadrunner 383.

His latest 10 year personal project is a 1970 Cuda 340.  When he got the car it was completely disassembled, it was a bare shell.  He prepped and painted the body, replaced all the missing interior and other parts, and has it so very close to being done.

A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, August 2, beginning at 10:00 am at the pavilion at Fairview Mennonite Church, 35100 Goltra Road SE, Albany.  As a tribute to Myron, if you have a special vehicle, a hot rod, classic, etc., drive or bring it and let's fill the parking lot.