Gerhard J. Petzall passed away on August 12, 2025, at the age of 94. He was born in Magdeburg, Germany, on June 13, 1931, to Erich and Stephanie Petzall. In 1937, the family fled Germany, settling in St. Louis, Missouri.

Gerhard served honorably for two years in the U.S. Army. He then earned his law degree from Washington University in 1958. He was a founding partner of Guilfoil, Petzall and Shoemake, a leading St. Louis law firm. He practiced law until his retirement in 2020. He served on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation and the Jewish Center of the Aged. He was a recipient of the Grosman Award for his services to the Jewish Community.

In 1992, Gerhard married Barbara Speraneo, his travel companion, his tireless co-host for years of family brunches, and his partner in crime when it came to spoiling their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In his later years, she became his devoted caretaker.

Gerhard was a world traveler who went dogsledding in Greenland, visited the North Pole, and went gorilla trekking in Africa twice: once in Rwanda with his son Guy, then again in Uganda with his wife Barbara. He saw Mount Everest in Nepal, traveled the Silk Road across China and Northern Pakistan, ventured to Irian Jaya in Indonesia; and toured Japan, Mexico, and South America.

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Gerhard was a lifelong foodie whose kids joked that he would eat “anything but poison and ink.” He completed New York Times crossword puzzles with a green, felt-tip pen. He was a loyal fan of both the Arizona Cardinals and the St. Louis Cardinals. He loved bad jokes, making his family groan by questioning why we put salt on the road when it snows, but not pepper. He loved his dog, Liberty, so much it was unreal.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara (nee Speraneo); his children, Julie Simpher (Jeff), Jenny Petzall, Gerhard “Guy” Petzall Jr. (Sarah), Erich S Petzall II (Denise), Grant Schraer (Donna), Diane Haselhorst (Steve); his grandchildren, Jamie, Jacob, Jasper, Ben, Kaya, Kepler, Brent (Autumn), Brooke (AJ), Josephine, Genevieve, Wesley, Samantha (Brian), Jared (Sarah); and his great-grandchildren, Dexter, Calvin, Brody, and Sloane.

Visitation Sunday August 17 at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Blvd. 63132 from 12-1 PM Funeral Service at 1 PM. Interment Following the Service at United Hebrew Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, consider a contribution to the Humane Society of Missouri. Visit www.bergermemorialchapel.com for more information.

BERGER MEMORIAL SERVICE