GEERDES, Richard Jacob

GEERDES, EVENS, ROSS, DUDA

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 9/26/2006 at 15:06:26

Monday, September 25, 2006

Richard Jacob "R.J." Geerdes, 17, of Cleghorn, died at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006 following an auto accident that occurred Thursday morning near Meriden. Funeral services will take place at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn High School gymnasium in Marcus.

Rev. Don Meyer of Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Marcus, will officiate. Burial will follow at the Marcus Amherst Cemetery. Visitation was at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the Earnest - Rohde Funeral Home in Marcus with the family present from 5-7 p.m.

Richard Jacob Geerdes was born on Aug. 14, 1989 in Cedar Rapids to Richard R. and Beckey L. (Evens) Geerdes. He started grade school in Denison and later transferred to MMC School in the third grade. R.J. was currently a senior at MMC. He was enrolled in the Auto Technician Class through Western Iowa Tech Community College in Cherokee. A course he excelled at and thoroughly enjoyed.

R.J. was a great lover of the outdoors. His adventurous spirit led him to hunting, fishing and camping. Often times he carried out his adventures with his faithful companion Sheena, the family dog. He also enjoyed assembling plastic models of all sorts, tinkering with all types of gadgets, and stunt riding on his bicycle. R.J. was always willing to help out others that were in need. He gave the gift of life through tissue and organ donation.

He will be lovingly remembered by his parents Rick and Beckey Geerdes of Cleghorn; a brother Dakota Allen and a sister Niccole Ashton at home; his grandmother and step-grandfather Nancy and Charles Ross of Cedar Rapids; his grandparents Richard L. and Dianna R. Geerdes of Ida Grove; grandfather David Evens Sr. of Cedar Rapids; a great-grandfather Edward Duda of Marion; a great-grandmother Mary Evens of Urbana; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his great-grandfather Pearl Evens; great-grandmother Gertrude Geerdes; an uncle Jeff Evens; and a great-uncle Mike Geerdes.