After those close calls during World War II, Gaker returned to the University of Cincinnati, where he entered medical school in 1947.
Eight years later, Gaker and his wife, Carolyn, settled in Middletown, where he practiced urology for 41 years.
Dr. Louis Gaker died Aug. 7. He was 92.
After his son, Dr. Doug Gaker, took over the family’s urology practice, Gaker served as a physician with the Clipper Cruise Ship Co. This allowed the Gakers to take many cruises during their retirement, said his daughter Lisa Gaker Wilson. In addition to travelling, her parents moved to a farm outside Middletown where her father continued his love of planting trees and raising hunting dogs.
Wilson said her mother died in May.
“He really missed her,” she said.
Her father was a patient with Hospice Care of Middletown for one day.
“He never gave up,” she said. “He fought.”
Wilson said her father was “a man of few words.” Instead, she said, he led by example.
“His actions is what I remember,” she said. “His kind ways.”
Dr. Doug Gaker said his father’s “quiet” ministry was paying for those who needed dental work, either teeth pulled or dentures. The Gakers had a family prayer and it concluded with the words thinking of “the needs of others.”
Gaker said his father “lived that.”
Growing up, Gaker said his brothers and sister received one Christmas present every year. Meanwhile, there were numerous presents stacked in the corner of the room for their father, all gifts from thankful patients.
“It was a different era,” Gaker said. “It was really evident he was very valued in the community by his patients.”
His daughter said Gaker lived by one motto: “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.”
Wilson said her father always was preoccupied with his profession. He kept a pad of paper in his front shirt pocket and frequently reviewed cases during family dinners. That led to some confusing conversations.
“He’d say, ‘Pass the…pass the…pass the….’” his daughter said. “‘Dad, do you want the salt?’”
He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Gaker; two sons, Louis Gaker and David Gaker; and grandson, and Edward Gaker.
Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, 2910 Central Ave., followed by the funeral presided by the Rev. Michael Isaacs. Burial will be at 3 p.m. at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati.
He is survived by his daughter, Lisa Gaker Wilson (Steve Wilson) of Middletown, Ohio, Bruce Seybold Gaker of Folsom, La., and Dr. Douglas Luke Gaker (Kim Borcherding Gaker) of Oregonia. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
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