Ewald G. Gerken (1930-2020)

GERKEN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 4/20/2020 at 08:02:04

Ewald G. Gerken
April 10, 1930 - March 17, 2020

Ewald G. Gerken, 89, of Cascade, IA, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade, IA.

A private funeral mass and burial will be held Thursday March 19, 2020 at St. Mathias Church with Rev. Douglas Loecke presiding. Interment will be held at Mt Calvary Cemetery in Cascade, IA. Due to the current corona virus threat, a celebration of life is postponed until a later date. Memorials may be given to St. Mathias Parish or to Salesian Missions, New Rochelle NY.

Ewald was born on April 10, 1930, in Dubuque, Iowa, son of Ewald F. and Ann (Schumaker) Gerken. He was a graduate of St. Columbkilles High School in Dubuque, IA. On October 28, 1967, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth E. Hughes at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Cascade, Iowa. She preceded him in death on June 11, 1994.

He was a member of the St. Martin’s Parish of the St. Thomas Aquinas Pastorate. Ewald was a member of the Brotherhood of Salesian Missions. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts of America, where he achieved Rank of Eagle Scout and was a Scout Leader.

Ewald was an avid carpenter and wood carver, an insatiable reader, and great story-teller. He was a beloved brother and a favorite uncle, taking on adventures as many nieces and nephews as he could cram into his VW Bug. Some of his happiest days were spent as a scout master in Cascade IA and as Salesian Brother at the Don Bosco Boys School in near Huttonsville, West Virginia where he showed many young men what it meant to love God’s creation and live for Christ. He loved to tell stories of his "little Bosco Brothers" and kept close friendships with many of them all his life.

He was a loving husband and father and instilled a love of nature in all his children. He was quick with an old story or rhyme to brighten our day, a constant quiet gentle presence when we needed him. He was a friend and mentor to many in the community in all ages of life.

He is survived by six children, Marcella (Lee) Roe of Temple Hill, IA, Gus (Tina) Gerken of Fairfax, IA, Mary Bridget Gerken (Fiancé Patrick Jones) of Chicago, IL, Gabriella (Josh) Young of Iowa City, IA, Henri (Paola) Gerken of Queen Creek, AZ, and Michaeleen (Bryan) Golay of Clarksville, IN and; 10 grandchildren, Lee (Becca) Roe III, Nathan (Chelsee) Roe, Dylan (Special Friend, Rachel) Roe, Garrett (Alisha) Roe, Erin Gerken, Nicholas Gerken, Gerard Gerken, Alec Gerken, Terry (Jennifer) Culbertson and Scott (Special Friend, Amanda) Culbertson; 5 great grandchildren, Winston Roe, Clement Roe, Edward Roe, Eldon Culbertson, Elliot Culbertson; one brother, William (Donna Beresford) Gerken of Farley, IA; two sisters-in-law, Rosalie Hughes of Cascade, IA, and Marilyn Hughes of Dubuque, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

He is also preceded in death by his parents, his wife, four brothers, Donald (Ann) Gerken,Adrian (Joan) Gerken, Daniel(Joyce) Gerken, and Loras (Virginia) (Marlene) Gerken; five sisters, Lousie (Wilfred) Coakley, Teresa (Donald) McCoy, Joan (Vernon) Larson, Dolores Gerken, and Mary (John) Temple; father and mother-in-law, Henry and Marcella Hughes; four brothers-in-law, Alfred Hughes, Cletus (Erna) Hughes, Milton Hughes, and Loras(Sally) Hughes; and several nieces and nephews

Special thanks to Angela Wink and the members of St. Mathias parish who visited him often and to his care givers both at Shady Rest and during his hospital stays at Mercy. Further gratitude is extended to his housekeepers especially Janet, Carol, and Judy whose help allowed him to live at home for so many years. Your assistance, attention and care brought a lot of joy to his life and comfort to his family.