Obituary of Joseph J. Gelhaus

Joseph J. Gelhaus

Sept 27, 1942 – August 2, 2023

Joseph Gelhaus was born the 27^th of September 1942 to Joseph & Eleanor Gelhaus in the Bronx, NY.  He attended St. Benedict grammar school and graduated from St. Helena High School.  He also attended Iona College, New Rochelle, NY.  After college he decided to serve his country and community by joining the New York National Guard, 1stBn 258^th Field Artillery.  In 1965 he married his high school sweetheart and best friend Patricia Conroy in St Helena’s Church, Bronx, NY.  Drawn again to service, he joined the NYPD and was in the first graduating class in 1966 to do a full six months in the Academy.  His first assignment was with the Tactical Patrol Force (TPF) where he diligently began serving the city of New York during one of its most eccentric and egregious times.  He loved the “JOB” and made many friends on it!  In 1967 he moved his family out of the Bronx to Pearl River, NY the “Town of Friendly People”.  There he raised three wonderful children and was a devote member of St. Aedan’s Church.  He was promoted to Sargeant in 1973 and retired in 1999 after twenty-five years of service to New York City in the NYPD.  After living in Pearl River for thirty-four years he decided to retire to beautiful, sunny Florida. 

He is survived by his loving wife of fifty-eight years Pat and their three children and their families.  Kathleen & Peter of NY, Joseph & Pranee of Florida, and Jeanine & Tom of Kansas.  He is also survived by his six loving grandchildren: Joey of FL, Kaitlyn & Christian of NY, and Brendan, Anna, & Mary of Kansas.  Joe was so very proud of all their accomplishments!  He is also survived by his sister Joan, brother Tom, and sister Elaine of New York. 

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at Holy Name of Jesus, Indialantic, Florida on August 30, 2023.  Visitation 10:30 in Church, Mass at 11:00 am.  Burial will be at 1:00 pm at Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge, Fl. In lieu of flowers the family has requested a donation kindly be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation. (https://t2t.org/) Thank you for your prayers and God Bless!