Leo J. Gerken 1928-2008

TEGELER, GERKEN, DINGBAUM, TJADEN, MEZERA, SHORT, MEGEL, DREES, FANGMAN, FERICKS

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/15/2008 at 20:02:47

Leo J. Gerken

INDEPENDFENCE, Iowa -- Leo J. Gerken, 79, of Independence, died Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008, at Allen Memorial Hospital, Waterloo, from complications of congestive heart failure.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at St. John's Catholic Church, Independence, with the Rev. Aloysius J. Vorwald officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the Reiff Funeral Home & Crematory, Independence, where the rosary will be recited at 3 p.m. and a wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Friends also may call from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

He was born on Feb. 1, 1928, in Dyersville, son of Henry H. and Catherine F. (Tegeler) Gerken. He was a 1946 graduate of the Xavier High School in Dyersville.

He married Juliana M. Dingbaum on Jan. 20, 1959, in Earlville. The couple made their home in Independence, where Leo was the co-owner of Cy & Charley's Firestone until his retirement in 1991.

Leo was an active member of St. John's Catholic Church in Independence, serving on several church committees. He was a member of the church choir and served as a lector and cantor. He was also a member of the St. Pius the 10th Knights of Columbus in Independence.

Surviving are his wife Julie, of Independence; five children, Mitch (Sheila) Gerken and Morris Gerken, both of Independence; Lisa Tjaden, Omaha, Neb., Lonie (Bob) Mezera, of Des Moines, and Linda (Mike) Short, of Marion; ten grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Catherine Megel, of Papillion, Neb., and Mary Ann Drees, of Dyersville.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Charles and Bernard Gerken; and two sisters, Lorraine Fangman and Vernita Fericks.

Copyright (c) Woodward Communications, Inc. 2008, All Rights Reserved. Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Thursday, January 31, 2008