Gerald G. "Gerry" Olberding 1927-2012

OLBERDING, MEIS, KLOSTERMANN, SINGSANK, SCHLICHTE, GRIFFIN, MERRICK, HOEGER, TEGELER

Posted By: Cheryl Moonen (email)
Date: 1/19/2015 at 17:55:08

Dubuque Telegraph Herald - February 16, 2012

DYERSVILLE, Iowa -- Gerald G. "Gerry" Olberding, 85, of Dyersville, died Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at Oak Crest Manor, Dyersville.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, with the Rev. Noah Diehm officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery, where military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post 137. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Kramer Funeral Home, Dyersville, where there will be a vigil service at 4 p.m. and an American Legion service at 7 p.m.

Gerry was born on Feb. 5, 1927, in Dyersville, son of Franicis and Cecelia (Meis) Olberding. He married Erma J. Klostermann on Jan. 27, 1948, in Dyersville. Together they farmed the family farm near Dyersville, until retirement in 1988, when they moved to town. She preceded him in death in 2005.

Gerry served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, from 1945 to 1946, as a B-29 aviation mechanic stationed at Hickam AFB in Hawaii. He also served as a rural fire board member for about 30 years.

Surviving are his children, Ken (Lois), Steve (Karolyn) Olberding and Joyce (friend, Joe Gibbs) Meyers, all of Dyersville; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; siblings, Delbert (Marjorie) Olberding, Raymond (Gen) Olberding and Don (Darlene) Olberding, and a sister-in-law, Eileen Olberding, all of Dyersville; and in-laws, Millie Klostermann, Norma Klostermann, Verna Klostermann, Ted Mock and Lori Klostermann.

He also was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Janet in 1963; a granddaughter, Stefanie Olberding, in 1979; siblings, Bob Olberding, Mercedes (Gilbert) Singsank, Germaine (Joe) Schlichte and Catherine (Jim) Griffin; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Bernice (Glen) Merrick, Irvin (Millie) Klostermann, Elmer "Lefty," Harold, LeRoy and Vern Klostermann, Dorothy (Tony Tegeler and Al Hoeger) Hoeger, Betty Mock and Edna (Elmer) Tegeler.