Pastor William A. Gerak, Sr. passed away on Monday, February 1, 2021 at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy Division. He was 72 years old.

Born in Perth Amboy on August 3, 1948 to the late William and Susan Gerak, he was raised in the Avenel section of Woodbridge Township and has resided in Perth Amboy since 1984.

Pastor Gerak graduated from Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey) in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. After graduation, he taught in the Woodbridge Public School system while politically campaigning for local district races focused on the Woodbridge, NJ area.

He trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior on November 27, 1975 while viewing a television program of a church service. Six months later, he was baptized as a public profession of his faith at the Central Baptist Church in Avenel, NJ. It was there, under the ministry of Pastor Jim Gent, that he answered God's call to the ministry. In 1978, he pursued church planting and started the New Life Baptist Church in Fords, NJ. Eventually that ministry, which met in a storefront, merged with First Baptist Church in Perth Amboy in 1984.

He is predeceased by his sister, Sandra Neri of Lakeland, TN. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Gail Gerak; daughter, Jennifer M. Gerak of Perth Amboy; sons, William A. Gerak, Jr. and his wife Iliana of Woodbridge, Stephen C. Gerak and his wife Lisa of Stockbridge, GA and David J. Gerak and his wife Sharah of Piscataway; sister, Judith L. Bungori, of Dover, DE; and grandchildren, Alexander, Kate, Alyssa, and Tyler.

Visitation for family and friends will be on Monday, February 8, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Perth Amboy, 79 Market Street, Perth Amboy. Funeral services will begin on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the church with Pastors Jose Santos and Jim Gent officiating. Interment will be in Clover Leaf Memorial Park, Woodbridge. Arrangements are under the direction of Costello-Koyen Funeral Home, Avenel.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions to First Baptist Church of Perth Amboy, 79 Market Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 in Pastor Gerak's memory would be greatly appreciated by his family.