Gerecke recalled for relating to fellow soldiers, officers

Henry Gerecke was known to expect excellence from his officers as chief of police in Cape Girardeau and as provost marshal of military police in Panama and Texas, but he also stood behind his officers even in the face of criticism.

"He was like a father figure," Cape Girardeau part-time patrolman Jerry Neels said. "You didn't want to let him down."

Gerecke died Sunday at the age of 95 at Chateau Girardeau.

"I loved him very much, and I'm going to miss him," daughter Jan Moore said. "He was 95, but I still feel like I didn't get enough time with him. He touched a lot of people in his life."

Gerecke enlisted in 1939 and served in Europe in World War II and later served in South Korea and South Vietnam. He met his wife, Millie, in France when she was serving with the Army Nurse Corps at the end of World War II. Gerecke's father, also Henry, was a chaplain during the war and ministered to Nazi war criminals during the Nuremberg trials.

"He would tell people frequently that he adored his father," Moore said. "I think, because of my grandfather's influence, he was such a good man."

Gerecke served 35 years in the Army, retiring as a colonel in 1974. He served as director of military police school in Germany, battalion commander of military police in Vietnam and provost marshal in Panama, Fort Hood and Fort Sam Houston, both in Texas.

A 23-year-old lieutenant named Larry Laske reported to Gerecke and taught classes in Germany and followed Gerecke to Fort Hood after Laske served a tour in Vietnam. Laske and Gerecke were close enough that Gerecke called Laske son while they served together.

"I loved that man as much as anyone," Laske said. "He was a dedicated professional who stood behind his people to the Nth degree."

Gerecke's loyalty was on display when he left Laske, then a major, in charge of police at Fort Hood when he went to Chicago for a meeting. A riot broke out in the prison when Laske was in charge.

"He relied on me, and he had confidence in me," Laske said. "He never questioned my decisions, ever."

Gerecke took a military attitude with him when he became police chief in Cape Girardeau in 1974. Neels, who was hired on the force in 1980, said Gerecke stuck to the chain of command with one exception. He would have monthly reviews with all the detectives to get an update on each case.

"I think it was more an exercise in making us better investigators," Neels said. "I honestly feel like it was a privilege for me to have time to work under him. ... The idea that he set high expectations, he expected you to perform, and it was done in a very professional way. I think that made me a better police officer."

Gerecke worked as police chief until 1981, when he retired. He was chief when Brenda and Mary Parsh were shot and killed in April 1977 and Sheila Cole was shot in killed later that year, all by Timothy Krajcir. Moore said he was greatly relieved when Krajcir was convicted of murder and rape in 2007 because of the investigative work by Cape Girardeau detective Jimmy Smith and Carbondale, Illinois, detective Paul Echols.

"It continued to bother him until Kracjir was caught," Moore said.

Gerecke went on to teach criminal justice at Southeast Missouri State University and Washington University in St. Louis. He also served as a mentor for other police chiefs in Cape Girardeau. Rick Hetzel, chief from 1997 through 2001, felt a kinship with Gerecke because they both had been in the military police before becoming chief in Cape Girardeau.

"I was very lucky to have a mentor like Hank," Hetzel said. "When you set in the chair of chief of the police, there are very few individuals in the community that have sat in that chair, especially with a common background."

bkleine@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address: 40 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, MO