Herman P. Gellings
Herman P. Gellings, age 79, of Chardon, Ohio, passed away on the evening of April 27, 2026, at Vista Springs Quail Highlands in Painesville, Ohio.
Born Aug. 2, 1946, to John and Christine (née Wittmers) Gellings, in Flint, Mich., Herm attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, Mich., for four years of high school and one and a half years of college. He was drafted and served in the U.S. Army, from 1966 to 1968, where he was a Sentry Dog Handler guarding missiles.
After serving, Herm attended Eastern Michigan University, where he graduated with both his B.S. and B.A. He earned his broker’s license in real estate and CPM (Certified Property Management).
Herm was vice president, general manager and real estate broker for multiple apartment complexes, office buildings, warehouses and storage facilities for over 30 years in five different states.
He had a passion for his hobby of woodworking. He built his workshop as a miniature version of his house. He was constantly making indoor and outdoor furniture, patio rocking chairs and benches, birdhouses, bird feeders, wooden wheelbarrow planters, wooden trains and firetrucks, a variety of toys, games and so much more.
Herm also enjoyed numerous vacations to most of the 50 states and several countries, but one of his favorite trips was a week-long camping and fishing expedition with his brothers to Canada.
He was a longtime resident of Columbus, Ohio, before moving to Chardon in 2017.
He was a gentle man and a gentleman who always had a twinkle in his eyes and made people feel that they were important. His last few years at Vista Springs continued to provide him with the chance to entertain with his quick one-liners and twice-a-day desserts that he rarely missed.
We are deeply saddened by his passing, but so glad that he is holding hands again with the love of his life, Beverly Elaine (née Daley) Gellings, who he married in 1970 and who died in 2023.
Herm is survived by his daughter, Angela (Paul) Mardula, of Chardon; son, Adam Gellings, of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren, Derek, Elaina and Trevor Mardula, of Chardon; siblings, Christine Gellings (IHM), of Chapel Hill, N.C., Marie (Dick) Yutendale, of Holland, Mich., John (Nancy) Gellings, of Flint, Mich., Marge (Tom) Jones, of Germantown, Wisc., Rob (Sandy) Gellings, of Birmingham, Ala., Dan (Kerrie) Gellings, of Grand Blanc, Mich., and Tim (Linda) Gellings, of Otisville, Mich.; and many, nieces, nephews large extended family and dear friends.
Friends are invited to say their final goodbyes from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at the Potti & Marc F. Burr Funeral Home of Painesville, 1009 Mentor Ave., Painesville, and 10-11 a.m., on Friday, May 8, 2026, at St. Mary’s Church, 401 North St., Chardon.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on May 8 at St. Mary’s Church with burial to follow at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon Township. The service will be live streamed and the link is available from Herman’s obituary at www.mfbfh.com.
In honor of Herm and Parkinson’s Awareness Month (April), family suggests donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at michaeljfox.org; or a charity of your choice.
Services entrusted to the Potti & Marc F. Burr Funeral Homes.
