ROCHESTER – Earl Gaerte, 67, of 615 Monroe St., Rochester, died at 8:53 a.m. Aug. 8, 2011, in Rivercrest Specialty Hospital, Mishawaka.
He was born Dec. 20, 1943, in Rochester, to Claude Emmond and Catherine Marie Michael Gaerte. On March 14, 1965, in Akron, he married Alice Faye Smith, who died June 18, 2005.
He graduated from Rochester High School in 1962. In 1969, Gaerte Engines began with him building engines in his two-car garage and quickly became one of the largest and most respected engine shops in short track racing. He was an innovator in sprint car and midget car racing. He loved both local and national racing and built engines for well-known racers such as Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart. In June 2007, he was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, Knoxville, Iowa. One of his most recent accomplishments was building the engine for Jason Blonde, who established a new world record at Bristol Motor Speedway.
His involvement in the Rochester community spanned several decades. He served on the FEDCO board of directors and executive committee from 1993-94 and again from 2007-2010 and was a member of the 911 Communications Board in 1996 and again from 2001 to present. A Democrat, he was elected a Fulton County Councilman and served in that capacity from June 1992 to present.
He was known as “E.G.” to his fellow members of the Blacktop Cruisers Car Club and also was a member of Good Guys Rod & Custom Association and Old Crossroad Baptist Church, Gilead.
Surviving are a daughter, Brenda Gaerte, Nike, Rochester; a son Joe Gaerte (and spouse Kim), Plymouth; a granddaughter, Natalie; and a stepsister, Eva Sanders, Chicago, Ill.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester, with the Revs. Thad Stewart and Jim Howard officiating.
Calling is from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and one hour prior to the service Wednesday at the funeral home.
***** Memorials may be made to Blacktop Cruisers Car Club or Old Crossroads Baptist Church, Gilead.
