Phillip "Flip" David Gerking's Obituary
Phillip David “Flip” Gerking was born in Hillsboro OR August 10 1951 to Phillip Deane and Nancy Carol (Collins) Gerking. The family moved to the Seattle area when Flip was three. He attended Foster High School where he ran track and worked summers at Longacres and for his grandfather in eastern Oregon. After graduation in 1969 he joined the Navy and served from 1972-1978, where he was stationed in Virginia and traveled to the Philippines. Flip married Jill Foreman in 1979 and they welcomed their only child, Jamey Ann, in 1984. Soon after, Flip started his company, Phillip’s Construction, and was successful until his diagnosis of Parkinson’s in 2013. Jill stayed home to raise Jamey until her untimely death from lung cancer in 1990.
With his family’s help and support, Flip was a single dad until 1993 when he married Maureen Freelund. They parted ways in 1997 and Flip continued to parent Jamey, buying her her first horse, Bad Bob, and attending her many 4-H and horse shows.
Jamey made Flip a proud grandpa in 2004 when Jayden James was born, followed a few years later by Peyton David, Mayson Glen, and Cheyanne Alene. His grandchildren were the light of his life and Flip doted on them, lavishing them with time, attention, and love.
Upon his Parkinson’s diagnosis Flip slowly became less and less able to work and care for himself, and when he had a series of strokes in early 2022, he became dependent on others for his care. In February of this year he was diagnosed with lupus. It was discovered he had severe organ damage which resulted in Flip’s decision to forgo further treatment, and let nature take its course. He entered hospice on April 6th and died at 6 am on April 18.
Flip loved music and was a passionate Beatles fan in his youth. He went to concerts, played the guitar and sang. He loved working on cars and motorcycles and he and his brothers, Darby and Matt, all rode their bikes on a multi-state excursion.
Flip found his passion by happenstance one summer when working on a construction site. He said, “I felt like I was doing what I was born to do. I couldn’t get enough of it!” He said he was thirsty to learn all he could about his craft, and this previously indifferent student checked out every book he could find on the subject.
Flip is survived by his daughter Jamey Ann Gerking and his four grandchildren Jayden, Peyton, Mayson and Cheyanne; his sisters Penny, Meredith, and Amy, and his brother Matthew, and numerous close friends and relatives. He was predeceased by his parents Phillip and Nancy, his brother Darby, and his wife Jill.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to 4-H, your local Humane Society, or Parkinson’s or Lupus research.
You can watch the service remotely here: https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/89130/hash:A7261FBA267A40BB
What’s your fondest memory of Phillip "Flip"?
What’s a lesson you learned from Phillip "Flip"?
Share a story where Phillip "Flip"'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Phillip "Flip" you’ll never forget.
How did Phillip "Flip" make you smile?
