Gerald Vincent Gonsman Jr.
Dec. 1, 1935 – March 27, 2026

Gerald Vincent Gonsman Jr., 90, Hollidaysburg Veterans Home, formerly of Altoona, died Friday at UPMC Altoona.
He was born in Altoona, son of the late Gerald Vincent Gonsman Sr. and Regie (Merritts) Gonsman.
He is survived by two sons, Vincent Gonsman (Jenny) of LaGrange, Ky., and Aaron Watson (Debbie) of Westfield; a daughter, Jennie Dieffenderfer (Scott) of Harrisburg; four grandchildren: David Gonsman (Sierra), Taylor Gonsman (Unity), Emilee Dieffenderfer and Aaron Dieffenderfer; two great-grandchildren, Amber Shay Gonsman and Jamie Gonsman; three brothers: Robert Gonsman of Duncansville, Patrick Gonsman of Hollidaysburg and William Luther in Florida; a sister, Rita Walls of New Alexandria; and several nieces and nephews.
Gerald was preceded in death by his stepmother, Rita (Porta) Luther Gonsman Sipes; his longtime companion, Margaret Watson; sisters, Gloria Williams and Helen Drawdy; and a brother, Thomas Luther.
He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran of the Korean Conflict serving from 1954-57 and retired from Electric Cord Co. of Westfield as a mechanic with 30 years of service. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Lakemont, and the Hollidaysburg American Legion.
Gerald enjoyed fishing and was a sports fan of his home state teams of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday March 31, 2026, at Plank, Stitt and Stevens Funeral Home, 421 Montgomery St., Hollidaysburg, where a vigil for the deceased will be held. A funeral Mass will be celebrated for Gerald at 10 a.m. Wednesday April 1, 2026, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Lakemont, Monsignor Michael Becker, celebrant. Committal with military honors will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Martinsburg.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Gerald’s memory to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Condolences may be made at stevensfamilyfuneralhomes.com or the Stevens Family Funeral Homes Facebook page.