Geraldine “Gerri” Lyn Nerheim passed away peacefully in Portland, Oregon, on April 19, 2026, at the age of 80, after a short battle with lung cancer. Born on November 2, 1945, in Seattle, Washington, Gerri moved to Portland as a young child and spent most of her life there. Though her final years were in Portland, she always carried a special love for the Oregon coast and the 16 years she and her husband, Bill, spent living there. To know Gerri was to know a true spitfire. She was fun, feisty, fiercely loyal, and never afraid to speak her mind. She had little patience for bossy people; some joked that “bossy and bossy don’t mix,” and she rarely backed down from anything. Rough around the edges at times, she loved deeply and protected the people she cared about with everything she had. She was exactly the kind of person you wanted in your corner — someone who would share her last piece of bread with you and put a roof over your head if you needed it. Gerri often described herself as “a survivor,” proudly telling stories about somehow surviving being run over twice during her childhood. She was raised alongside her three siblings by a hardworking mother who sometimes struggled to make ends meet but always found a way to provide for her children. That resilience stayed with Gerri throughout her life. In 1966, Gerri met the love of her life, Bill Nerheim. Together, they blended their families and built a life grounded in commitment, laughter, music, and unwavering devotion to one another. Married for 55 years, they created a home where dinner was always on the table by 5:30, music was always playing, and family always came first. Beneath Gerri’s fiery personality was a deeply devoted mother who showed her love in dependable, everyday ways — good meals, long phone calls, birthday celebrations, fierce protection, and always being there when her family needed her. Just seventeen months after gathering at Willamette National Cemetery to celebrate Bill’s life, family and friends will return once more to lay Gerri beside him. Together, Bill and Gerri loved dancing, Halloween costume parties, thrift shopping, good food, and time with friends. Their home was filled with music from The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, jazz, and disco. She adored Christmas, Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe, decorating enthusiastically and unapologetically. Gerri was also an incredibly talented ceramic painter in her younger years, entering competitions annually and once having two pieces tied for Best of Show — an accomplishment she was deeply proud of. Later in life, some of her happiest days were the simple ones: running around town, thrift shopping, finding treasures, going out to eat, and spending hours on the phone chatting with the people she loved. She never forgot a birthday and was known for sending cards decorated with fun stickers on the envelopes — something family and friends came to expect and cherish. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Bill and her children Terry, David, and Linda. She is survived by her daughter Alisa; son-in-law Tim; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many friends and extended family members who will forever miss her humor, honesty, loyalty, and unforgettable spirit. Gerri taught those around her to speak up, to love fiercely, and to keep going no matter what life throws at you. Even in difficult moments, she often shrugged and said, “Oh well.” A memorial service will be held on June 17, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. at Willamette National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society. And if Gerri had one final request, it would probably be simple: turn up the music and dance.