GERDES, Darlene 1935-2013

GERDES, OELMANN, JASPERS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/15/2013 at 13:40:24

Darlene Gerdes, age 78 of Ackley, died on Sunday, October 13, 2013 at Presbyterian Village in Ackley. Funeral services will be 10:30 Thursday October 17, 2013 at the East Friesland Presbyterian Church with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Sietsema Funeral Home in Ackley. A memorial fund has been established.

Darlene Frances Oelmann was born on April 20, 1935 to Ernest and Florence (Jaspers) Oelmann in Marshalltown, IA. She attended German #9 Country School and graduated from Ackley High School in 1953. After high school she went to Dubuque College. On December 14, 1957, Darlene was united in marriage to Richard Gerdes in Hampton, Iowa. Darlene was a member of the Legion Auxillary, Red Hat Group and the Golden Girls. She enjoyed spending time with family, motorcycle rides, Alaskan cruises, traveling and shopping. Darlene was also on the Today Show and made it one stage on the Jay Leno.

Darlene is survived by her four children; Lisa (Randy) Ubben of Aplington, Kirk Gerdes of Grapevine, TX, Kent (Donna) Gerdes of Frisco, TX and Gina (Kent) Ubben of Austinville; her four siblings Myrle Lindaman of Iowa Falls, Donald Oelmann of Iowa Falls, AnnaMae Tharp of Washington, IL and Leonard Oelmann of Ackley; her sister-in-law Dorothy Zacharias of Waterloo; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard, brothers-in-law Virgil Zacharias, Lloyd Lindaman and Russ Tharp.

--Surls Funeral Homes (www.surls.com)