Dr. Gerald “Gerry” Thomas Gau
Wednesday, December 21, 1938
Date of Death:
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Age:
85 years old
Visitation
Date: Saturday March 16, 2024
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Memorial Service
Date: Saturday March 16, 2024
Time: 11:00 am
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Burial
Location: Byron Cemetery
Live Stream of Memorial Service
To view the live stream of the memorial service, please click here
Wednesday, December 21, 1938
Date of Death:
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Age:
85 years old
Wednesday, December 21, 1938
Date of Death:
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Age:
85 years old
Dr. Gerald “Gerry” Thomas Gau
Dr. Gerald “Gerry” Thomas Gau – Rochester, Minnesota died February 28, 2024 surrounded by his loving family.
Gerald Gau was born December 21, 1938, in Camrose, Alberta Canada to parents Hilda and Leander Gau.
He had two older brothers, Daniel and Frederick, and one younger sister, Marie Theresa.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Colleen, his two sons, Tom and Nick, and seven grandchildren. He was proceeded in death by both parents, his brother Dan, and his sister Marie Theresa, and his son Matthew.
He attended the University of Alberta in Edmonton where he received a Bachelor of Science degree and medical degrees. He interned at the Edmonton General Hospital. Following his internship, he was accepted at the Mayo Clinic for residency in Internal Medicine. During this time he developed his interest in Cardiology. He worked with Dr. Ralph Smith to develop the early computerization of the electrocardiogram. He was accepted to study cardiology at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School at Hammersmith Hospital in London, England where he spent two years. Upon his return to the U.S. he joined the staff of the Mayo Clinic where he remained for 48-years. He received many accolades during his career including the distinguished clinician award. A scholarship was named in his honor. His reputation was worldwide and Teacher of the Year from the Mayo Medical School (many times).
Many international patients were treated by him. He assisted many candidates for the Canadian Medical boards. He founded the Cardiovascular Health Clinic and traveled to small communities in northern Iowa to see patients as a part of Mayo Outreach.
He was devoted to his patients who remember him fondly as the doctor with a bow-tie and a rose in his lapel. The rose was often from his own garden in rural Byron where he spent many happy hours.
He enjoyed traveling the world with his family. The experience of living in London broadened his appreciation for history and food. He liked a glass of good Scotch in the evening.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 16, 2024, in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Donations may be given to The American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.
Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.
Condolences
The family of Dr. Gerald “Gerry” Thomas Gau has received the following condolences.
Colleen,Tom and Nick
My condolences on the passing of Gerald. It sounds like he touched many lives. I did not know him well but he was a man to be honored.
Peace to you all.
Collen, Tom, and Nick
On behalf of the Gorski family, I wish to pass along our sincere condolences on the passing of Gerry. When I told my mother (Lorraine) of Gerry’s passing she recalled the generosity, graciousness and support that Gerry and Collen provided as she stayed on the farm while my father (Joe) was at the Mayo. They were true angels for my family. I have always treasured Gerry’s sly and witty sense of humor. He was a true gentleman and great conversationalist. He had a great ability to listen, and I learned the value of humility, integrity, and family from Gerry. Not only did Gerry heal the body, but he also healed the soul.
Phil
Collen, Tom, and Nick
On behalf of the Gorski family, I wish to pass along our sincere condolences on the passing of Gerry. When I told my mother (Lorraine) of Gerry’s passing she recalled the generosity, graciousness and support that Gerry and Collen provided as she stayed on the farm while my father (Joe) was at the Mayo. They were true angels for my family. I have always treasured Gerry’s sly and witty sense of humor. He was a true gentleman and great conversationalist. He had a great ability to listen, and I learned the value of humility, integrity, and family from Gerry. Not only did Gerry heal the body, but he also healed the soul.
Phil
Sincere condolences to you and your family, Colleen. It was a long, difficult time for our cousin Gerald and all his family and friends. He will surely be missed by so many. Marilyn and I will always remember us three sisters growing up with the four Gau cousins living just across the “back alley” from our house in Camrose, Alberta. Gerald and Theresa used to play in the barn with Marilyn and Joanne, and I heard so many funny stories about the antics of Gerald during those years. He used to come in to our house and love to tease our mother, especially about her baking which he loved. Gerald in his VW Beetle with a heater that was not working in the middle of cold winters used to give Marilyn rides home to Camrose on weekends when he was interning at the Edmonton General Hospital when Marilyn was in nurses training. Marilyn remembers the cold, but says their laughter kept them warm. We will always remember the last time we met with you and Gerald, when Frank brought you to Brentwood Bay to visit with me & my husband and Marilyn and Joanne at Christmas time in 2016. We shared many family stories which made Gerald have many good laughs. You and your family, Colleen, are in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Jeannie and Marilyn LaBarge
We are so sorry to hear about Gerald. Most of my memories of Gerald was when I was a young lad living in St Albert, AB with my parents (Bud and Blanche) and our family gatherings in Camrose. He was always a true gentleman and a rock star.
Thank you for keeping us in the loop as it is in these times, I am grateful the world is smaller with the internet and we can send a note saying that we are thinking about Gerald and your family. Such a great picture of Gerry.
Warmest regards, Pat and Gwyneth Gau. Sicamous, BC
For many, many people, Gerry was a wonderful clinician, teacher, and friend. We are especially grateful for his efforts to blaze a trail in preventive cardiology that still lights the way for others to follow. He is missed, but his influence will continue to be felt for many years into the future.
Randal Thomas
Colleen, Tom and Nick,
I have just learned of Gerry’s passing. Please accept my sincerest and deepest condolences. I know the past years have been challenging, but Gerry led such an incredible life, and helped so so many people in this life-I hope those memories and the fact he did sustain you!
Wish I could be there for his service to support you-but know you are all in my thoughts and prayers! ❤️
Kaz(Karen) Sensenbaugh
I'm very sad to learn of Grandpa's passing. I'll always remember the wonderful Sundays spent with him and the puzzles we did together. Thinking of you all and especially Nana to who I send a big hug.
Our sincerest condolences. Thinking to all of you and especially Nana and Nick at this difficult time.
Dear Mrs. Gau and family:
Please accept my condolences at Dr. Gau’s passing. I had known him since 1985 as part of my training and then as a colleague. He was a remarkable teacher and clinician and a gentle soul. His ways were definitely an inspiration to me during my training. Thank you for sharing him others.
TM Munger, MD
Dear Colleen, I am so sorry to read of your husband’s passing. My heartfelt condolences.
In 1984 I was a resident on Dr. Gau's cardiology service at St. Mary's Hospital. One morning he was sporting a beautiful rose in his lapel but had forgotten to wear a tie. Our medical student Teresa Horlocker (now a Mayo anesthesiologist) was wearing a narrow ribbon tie and offered it to Dr.Gau. He wore it for rounds that day. Colleagues who saw him kidded him about the cute tie
Dr Gau was a great teacher with a wonderful sense of humor. I offer my condolences at his passing.