Robert Clarence Gerst 1921-1994

GERST, KNAPP, BURGUS

Posted By: deb (email)
Date: 5/1/2015 at 21:41:57

The Hawk Eye

Robert "Butch" Gerst, 73, of 16684 195th Street, Yarmouth, died Saturday, October 8, 1994, at Burlington Medical Center.

Born September 16, 1921, in Burlington, he was the son of Julius and Sarah Knapp Gerst. On November 3, 1943, he married La Vera E. Burgus at Norfolk, Virginia.

Mr. Gerst farmed in central Des Moines County and worked at J. I. Case, retiring in 1989. He was a 1940 graduate of Sperry High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as chief mechanic for the 88th Air Group Dive Bombing Squadron on the USS Yorktown.

He was a member of the Diamond Lodge of I.O.O.F. at Sperry; a member of the Daniel Matson American Legion Post 243 at Mediapolis, a member and current master of Progress Masonic Lodge 226 A.F. and A.M. in Mediapolis, a member of the White Star O.E.S. 388 in Mediapolis, a member of the KAABA Shrine and Scottish Rite in Davenport, the Yorkrite Bodies of Burlington, the Legion of Honor National Association and served as representative of VB-88 Air Group for the USS Yorktown Museum Association in Charleston, South Carolina

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Judith Wade of Davenport and Jane Gerst of Mediapolis; two sons, Dr. Jerald R. Gerst of Sebastapol, California, and John W. Gerst of Yarmouth; six grandchildren; two sisters, Katherine Davis of Burlington and Edna Knotts of Sperry; five brothers, George Gerst of Columbus Junction, Herbert Gerst of Mediapolis, Otto Gerst of Gladstone, Illinois, and Adolph Gerst and Ernest Gerst, both of Burlington.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and one brother.

Visitation will be as friends desire Monday at Hagele and Honts Funeral Home in Mediapolis, where Masonic services will be held at 6:30 p.m. and the family will receive friends following the services until 8:30 p.m.

The funeral for Mr. Gerst will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Sperry United Methodist Church, with the Reverend John Gaulke officiating. Burial with graveside military folding of the flag will be at the Kossuth Cemetery in Mediapolis.

A memorial has been established for the Sperry United Methodist Church and the Shriners Crippled Children's Hospital.