John W. Gerdes, 88, of Bedford, died on April 17, 2015.

Mr. Gerdes was born in Hackensack, New Jersey on May 4, 1926, and he was the son of the late John R. and Martha (Taxis) Gerdes.
He was raised in Maywood, New Jersey and at the end of his high school years enlisted in the United States Navy on February 4, 1944.

He served on the USS Everett F. Larson DD-830, maintaining and operating early radar equipment, and he was discharged January 29, 1947 as an Electronics Technician's Mate First Class.

While in the service he met Virginia M. Driscoll at a USO event in Boston. They were later married on June 6, 1949 in Natick. They lived in Framingham before moving to Bedford in 1969 where they raised their family of five sons. Virginia predeceased John in 2006.

Following his separation from the Navy, he studied education at Boston University. John also obtained advanced degrees in physics and engineering from Boston University and Northeastern University. He was an expert in electro-optical systems and worked on many groundbreaking technologies including the first generation of spy satellites, cameras that mapped the Moon and Mars, and satellite instruments for studying galaxies, supernovae, and black holes. He was last employed as a program manager for the construction of space-based instruments at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, retiring in 1994.

In retirement John was well known in the Bedford Community for his volunteer work with the Council on Aging and the Friends of the Council on Aging. For the past several years he has managed the Fix-It Shop at the Senior Center on Mudge Way. Although the shop was open two days per week, John would be there every day repairing clocks, watches, vacuum cleaners, lamps and other small appliances. He somehow would find a way to enjoy lunch at a restaurant with close friends regularly.

In the past Mr. Gerdes was a FCC registered amateur ham radio operator and a leader for Boy Scouts. He also was an avid motorcycle rider. John was known to his family, friends, and neighbors as "Mr. Fix It," and he was always ready to lend a hand to help others.

He is survived by his five sons and their spouses; John and Cheryle of Bel Air, MD, Karl and Ellen of Falls Church, VA, Michael and Terry of Smyrna, GA, Kurt and Kim of Gaithersburg, MD and Eric and Gayle of Dayton, MD, as well as eleven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his brother, Arthur Gerdes.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, April 21, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Michael Church, 90 Concord Rd. , Bedford, on Wednesday, April 22, at 9:00 A. M.

Donations are encouraged in lieu of flowers to the Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Office of Philanthropy, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805