GERDES, John F. (1912-1984)

GERDES, ROHLFS, BENSON, GJERDE, BODE, MAY, SHIPMAN, MCGURK

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 2/20/2023 at 11:43:38

John Gerdes
1912-1984

Services for John Gerdes, 72, of Woden who died Sunday at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt, were held 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 22, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Woden with Rev. Susan Olsen of Calvary-Grant Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake as officiant. Mrs. John Kurtzleben served as organist. Ushers were Lyle Doege and Antony V. Buns.

Casketbearers were Michael May, Robert Gerdes, Rodney Anderson, Lynn Benson, James Benson and David Benson.

Burial was in Bingham Township Cemetery at Woden. Visitation was held at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Woden.

John F. Gerdes, the son of Fritz T. and Elizabeth (Rohlfs) Gerdes was born April 1, 1912 at Westenstede, Oldenburg, Germany. At the age of two he came to the United States with his family and settled in the Woden area. John attended school at Woden and then worked with his father, who was an independent contractor.

He married the former Alice Benson. To this union were born two children, Judy and John T. Gerdes. He worked at the Farmer's Co-op Elevator at Woden for 26 years and then at Winnebago Industries at Forest City for nine years. In 1977 he retired.

He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church and had served his community as a city councilman and fireman. He was also a member of the Woden Commercial Club for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Alice of Woden; his daughter, Mrs. Eugene (Judy) Gjerde of Columbus, Miss.; his son, John T. and his wife, Endean, of Franklin, Tenn.; four grandchildren: Julie and Curt Gjerde and Daniel and Amy Gerdes; three sisters: Mrs. Ted (Mary) Bode of Ceylon, Minn., Mrs. Don (Betty) May of Corwith and Mrs. David (Barbara) Shipman of Nora Springs; two brothers: Freddie Gerdes and his wife, Leota, of Woden and Ernest Gerdes and his wife, Rose, of Woden: a sister-in-law, Mrs. Evelyn Gerdes of Britt and a brother-in-law, Joe McGurk of Algona.

source: Leader & Signal, Garner, Iowa, 22 Aug 1984, page 2, column 1