Paul E. Gerwig, 87 Former Wells County Sheriff Paul E. Gerwig, who also served as Bluffton's police chief, died at 2:15 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, at River Terrace Estates. Mr. Gerwig was first elected as Wells County sheriff in 1970 and served two terms, leaving office at the end of 1978. He was appointed to complete a term in 1985 and successfully ran for another term in 1986, leaving office at the end of 1990. With 13 1/2 years in office, he is the longest-serving sheriff in Wells County history. He was appointed as Bluffton's police chief in 1968 and held that position until he ran for sheriff. Mr. Gerwig was a 1939 graduate of Liberty Center High School. He joined the U.S. Army Air Force in January of 1941 and was a ball turret gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, a member of the 487th Bombardment Group. He spent three years in Panama and a year in England. He received the EAME (European-African- Middle Eastern) Theater Ribbon with three Bronze Stars, the American Defense Service Medal, and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. He was discharged in September 1945. He was employed at Tonner Body Works and at Herman Reiff Construction before joining the Bluffton Police Department in 1960. He became a deputy in the Wells County Sheriff's Department in 1966, returning to the Bluffton Police Department in 1968 when Mayor Carl Goodwin appointed him the city's chief of police. He attended the Mulberry Street Wesleyan Church and was also a member of American Legion Post 111 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He had also been a member of the Air Force Reserve. Mr. Gerwig was born Jan. 1 1922, in Wells County, to Harry and Gladys Wagner Gerwig. He married Dorothy Matson July 27, 1945; his wife survives.Also surviving are a son, Michael (Susan) Gerwig of Poneto; a daughter. Gloria (Tom) Mayne of Bluffton; and 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. A brother, Kenneth Gerwig, preceded him in death. Calling will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Goodwin Memorial Chapel. Services will be held at the funeral home at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday with Pastor Don Hosier officiating. Burial will be at the Six Mile Cemetery, with graveside military rites performed by American Legion Post 111 in conjunction with the U.S. Army. Preferred memorials are to the Mulberry Street Wesleyan Church or to Hospice of Northeast Indiana and Palliative Care. Online condolences: www.thegmcfamily.com