Roger Allen Gertz

Roger Allen Gertz, age 90, of Acworth, Georgia, passed away peacefully on May 17, 2026. He was born on January 12, 1936, in Lorain, Ohio, to Ralph William Gertz and Myra Abrams Gertz.

Roger was a man of curiosity, determination, and creativity. From an early age, he loved understanding how things worked and developed remarkable skills in building, restoring, and repairing. As a young man, he purchased and restored an old roadster, transforming it into one of the finest cars in town.

His talent earned him a full scholarship to General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan. After one semester, however, Roger decided to chart his own course. Following a brief trip to California, he enrolled at Kent State University, where he worked his way through college. During his time at Kent State, he served as president of his Theta Chi fraternity, and he showed them how they could win the Academic Scholarship Award, a distinction never before awarded to a fraternity at the university.

In January of 1961, Roger met Judi in Lighthouse Point, Florida. He asked her to marry him in 3 months, and their wedding was 3 months later! 65 years of an amazing life together!

In 1959, Roger served in the United States Army and later spent five and a half years in the Army Reserves. He went on to build a successful career in the Life insurance industry, becoming a life insurance agent and eventually an independent broker, representing numerous companies. He was a Chartered Life Underwriter, CLU. He designed Life insurance software for many companies and he wrote a book for their sales forces to enhance their sales, giving them better solutions to serve their clients most effectively. He was a “pioneer in the life insurance software industry”!

Outside of work, Roger pursued a lifelong passion for restoring historic homes. Over the years, he restored 17 vintage homes, and his family had the privilege of living in many of them. He loved creating and building, and he passed those skills on to his children. One of his proudest accomplishments was working alongside his two oldest sons to completely restore a seven-bedroom farmhouse in Ohio.

Roger was known for his larger-than-life stories, quick wit, and warm personality. He never met a stranger and made many cherished friendships throughout his life, including during his years at Holbrook Active Adult Community. He loved being in a wonderful place! His sense of humor, generosity, and enthusiasm for life left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.

Roger is survived by his beloved wife, Judith Gearhart Gertz; his children, Scott Porter Gertz (Carmen), Jeffrey Stuart Gertz (Melissa,deceased); Stephen Ralph Gertz (Lani), and Sarah Laine Gertz McEntyre (Jon); his grandchildren, Jordan Gertz, Colston Gertz, Greyson Gertz, Carson Gertz,(Aimee); Destiny Gertz, Graham Gertz, John David Gertz, Shelton Gertz, Ann Callan Gertz, Jackson Howard (Sara); Claire McEntyre, Norah McEntyre, and Sullivan McEntyre; and his great-granddaughter, Eleanor Howard.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph William Gertz and Myra Abrams Gertz.

Roger's legacy lives on through the family he loved, the homes he restored, the lives he touched, and the stories that will continue to be shared by those that heard them. Roger entered Heaven where he saw the face of Jesus, his LORD. He and Judi made him Lord and Savior 54 years ago and he loved telling friends of that day. It truly set in motion a family faith that covered all of the Gertz Family!