Joseph R. Gerdes, age 83 of Hesperia, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. Joseph was born on December 12, 1934 in Midlothian, Illinois to Joseph Otto and Christine Josephine (Beck) Gerdes and later moved to Fremont from Chicago and then to Hesperia. Joseph married Anna Lee Fox in February 1954 and she preceded him in death in April 1996. Joe later married Lisa Towne on September 13, 1997. Joe had been an over the road truck driver for a period of time and then purchased the House of Flavors Restaurant in Hesperia in 1978. In 1984 he purchased a redi-mix business and also started building a mobile home park in Hesperia which he owned and operated until 2014. Joe enjoyed golfing, bowling, spending his winters in Texas and was a member of Christ The King Catholic Church in Hesperia. Joseph is survived by his wife, Lisa of Hesperia; his children, Daniel (Shelly) Gerdes of Fremont; Christine (Todd) Koch of White Cloud; Susan (Paul) Dykman of Rothbury; Jayne (Lonnie) Hamilton of Hesperia; 16 grandchildren, Jack Gerdes, Gina Gerdes, Mark Walters, Jeremy Quinn, Jared Quinn, Julie Burrell, Todd Koch II, Frank Koch, Tammy James, Todd Dykman, Misty Story, Aaron Dykman, Brooke Moore, Jason Hamilton, Terryl Hamilton, Nickie Lloyd; 37 great grandchildren; several great great grandchildren; his siblings, Raymond Gerdes of Greenville; John (Carla) Gerdes of Florida; David (Carolyn) Gerdes of Muskegon; Mary (Tom) Nyman of Twin Lake; Clara Gerdes (Kenneth) Greenberg of California; Anna (Frank) West of Stanton; Andrew (Linda) Gerdes of East Lansing; Ruth (Paul) Jennings of Whitehall; sister-in-law, Janet Gerdes of Arizona. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Christine Gerdes, his brother, Paul Gerdes; his sister-in-law, Karen Gerdes. VISITATION : Monday, November 26, 2018 from 4-7pm at Crandell Funeral Home – Fremont Chapel 7193 W 48th Street Fremont MI 49412. ROSARY SERVICES : Monday, November 26, 2018 at 7pm at Crandell Funeral Home – Fremont Chapel. VISITATION : Tuesday, November 27, 2018 from 10-11am at Christ The King Catholic Church in Hesperia. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL : Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 11am at Christ The King Catholic Church 263 S Elm Street Hesperia MI 49421. INTERMENT : Christ The King Catholic Cemetery in Hesperia. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS : Spectrum Health Hospice or charity of the donor's choice. Visitation Fremont Chapel Monday, November 26, 2018 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM 7193 W 48th Street Fremont, Michigan 49412 Rosary Fremont Chapel Monday, November 26, 2018 7:00 PM 7193 W 48th Street Fremont, Michigan 49412 Visitation Christ The King Catholic Church Tuesday, November 27, 2018 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM 263 S. Elm Hesperia, MI 49421 Mass of Christian Burial Christ The King Catholic Church Tuesday, November 27, 2018 11:00 AM 263 S. Elm Hesperia, MI 49421