Kerndt, Geraldine Evelyn (Verthein) 1924-2015

KERNDT, VERTHEIN, HART, WALTON, ASHBACHER, KOLVA

Posted By: Jean
Date: 8/11/2015 at 13:47:43

Geraldine E. Kerndt, 91, of Waukon, IA, died Friday, March 6, 2015, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 11th, at 10:00 AM at First Baptist Church in Waukon, with Rev. Duane Smith officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Tuesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Geraldine Evelyn Kerndt was born on January 2, 1924 in French Creek Township, rural Lansing, IA. She was the daughter of George William and Leonette Evelyn (Ashbacher) Verthein. Geraldine attended rural elementary school, graduated from Waukon High School in 1942 and took the normal training curriculum at Waukon Jr. College. She taught at the rural French Creek and Lycurgus Schools. On September 11, 1946 she married Kenneth Leslie Kerndt at the French Creek Methodist Church. They started out farming together in Center Township until buying a farm in Jefferson Township and moving there in 1960. Geraldine was active in all aspects of the farming operation but paid particular attention to the cows and the milking. In addition to that she raised a big garden, maintained the lawn and home and tended to the daily needs of her family.

Geraldine was an active member of First Baptist Church in Waukon where she was an AWANA leader and took part in Women’s Ministries. She was also a township and women’s chairperson of Allamakee County Farm Bureau. She was an avid reader, accomplished at sewing and crochet, and enjoyed fishing and camping. She and Kenneth also enjoyed traveling through the Midwest attending bluegrass music festivals.

Survivors include her husband Kenneth of Waukon; 3 children: Gregory (Pam) Kerndt of Waukon, Karen (David) Hart of Anchorage, AK, and Patricia (Kirby) Walton of Rochester, MN; 7 grandchildren: Christine Kerndt, Benjamin (Misty) Kerndt, Sarah (Sean) Kolva, Lindsey Kerndt, Leah Hart, Anna Walton and Isaac Walton; 2 great-grandchildren: Daysha and Isaiah Walton; a sister-in-law Wilma Verthein of Waukon; and a foster brother Allan Ashbacher of St. Paul, MN. She is preceded in death by her parents and a brother Willard Verthein.

Casketbearers will be Jay and Jeff Schon, Paul Promnitz, Greg Palmer, Dale Roney and Larry Gelo.

Obit published by Martin Funeral Home.