Gerkey, Josephine 'Josie' (Colsch) Goeke 1901-1999

COLSCH, TEFF, GOEKE, GERKEY, DOLNICK, STIRM, SULLIVAN, HOLMES, BISHOP, HENRY, BURROUGHS, ERICKSON

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 6/29/2011 at 16:46:19

SOURCE: Waukon, Iowa WAUKON DEMOCRAT, November 17, 1999
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

Josephine "Josie" Gerkey, age 98, of Waukon, Iowa died Tuesday, November 9, 1999 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon, Iowa after a brief illness.

Funeral services were held Friday, November 12 at 11 a.m. at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waukon, Iowa. Rt Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg officated. Burial followed at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Casket bearers were Kerry Connor-Wacker, Chelle Sullivan-Meyer, Brigitte Sullivan, Jason Sullivan, Dustin Lenz, Kathy Connor, Kealy Connor-Lonning and Darcey Smith. Martin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Josephine was born January 24, 1901 in New Albin, Iowa, the daughter of Nicholas and Louisa (Teff) Colsch. Throughout her younger years, she attended New Albin Schools. In 1917, she married Paul Goeke. Following Paul's death, Josephine married Francis John Gerkey on October 27, 1925 at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waukon, Iowa. Josephine was a baker for the S&D Cafe, Model Cafe, and Reva's Cafe. She also worked as a seamstress. Josie was a lifetime Allamakee County resident and spent most of that time in Waukon, Iowa. She was a member of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Rosary Society, and was an active volunteer at the parish.

Josephine was preceded in death by her parents; her 2 husbands; a daughter, Mildred Stirm and her husband Leo Stirm; a son Leo Gerkey; 3 great-grandsons, Kyle Sullivan, Doug Holmes, and Brian Bishop; 4 brothers, Nicholas Colsch, Charles Colsch, George Colsch, and Leo Colsch; and 5 sisters, Julia Henry, Maggie Burroughs, Martha Erickson, Lilly Colsch, and Rose Marie Colsch.

Survivors include her daughter, Arleen (Robert) Dolnick of Desert Hot Springs, California and her daughter-in-law, Theda Gerkey of Chariton, Iowa; 16 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and 36 great-great grandchildren.

Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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