Adolph Henry Gerst 1929 - 2007

GERST, KNAPP, WALKER, ROYER, SMRDEL, RAPPENECKER, KNOTTS

Posted By: debbie (email)
Date: 5/21/2007 at 23:19:02

The Burlington Hawkeye, Friday, May 18, 2007

Adolph Gerst
Adolph H. Gerst, 77, of Burlington, died at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at Burlington Care Center.

Born July 8, 1929, in Burlington, he was the son of Julius R. and Sarah Knapp Gerst. On June 30, 1951, he married Beverly M. Walker in Burlington.

Mr. Gerst was a teacher at Southeastern Community College for 27 years. He farmed with his brothers all his life. In addition, he worked at J.I. Case, Hawkeye Concrete in Morning Sun and Murray Iron Works. He was a 1949 graduate of Burlington High School, a 1951 graduate of Burlington Junior College and a 1963 graduate of Iowa State University in Ames. He was a member of First United Church of Christ, Southeast Iowa Antique Car Club, Blackhawk Auto Restorers and Midwest Franklin Club. His hobbies included collecting antique cars, draft horses and tractors.

Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Kim Royer of Burlington, Dianne Smrdel of Peosta and Laurie Rappenecker of Sperry; one son, Alan Gerst of Burlington; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Edna Knotts of Mediapolis; and two brothers, Herbert "Dick" Gerst of Mediapolis and Ernest Gerst of Burlington.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, three sisters and four brothers.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Lunning Chapel, with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m.

The funeral for Mr. Gerst will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Lunning Chapel, with Mr. Ed Lanz officiating. Burial will be in Apostolic Christian Church Cemetery, Oakville.

Memorials have been established for SCC Education Foundation and Des Moines County Fair.