GERDES, John (1889-1988)

GERDES, BRUNS, RIEKEN, LEEN, KRAGEL, NEILSON, KLEEMAN

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 2/20/2023 at 11:47:01

John Gerdes
1889-1988

Services for John Gerdes, 98, of Woden, who died Thursday, July 21, 1988 at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt were held 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 25 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Woden with Rev. Keith Klemm as officiant.

Lisa Sonius served as organist. Ushers were Dennis Smith and Paul Gerdes.

Casket bearers were Fred Kragel, Mike Kragel, Pete Kragel, Matt Kragel, Rodger Gerdes and Dan Neuroth.

Burial was in Bingham Township Cemetery with graveside military rites by the Woden Veterans Ceremonial Unit. Visitation was held at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Woden.

John Gerdes, the son of Fred and Rebecca (Bruns) Gerdes, was born September 24, 1889 on a farm near Mason City in Cerro Gordo County. At the age of two, he moved with his family to a farm near Woden, where he attended the rural schools of Bingham Township. John worked as a carpenter, a teamster and farmer. In 1918, he served his country as a medic in the U.S. Army. After the service, he worked as a carpenter in the Woden area.

March 15, 1930, he married Cora Rieken at the Lutheran parsonage north of Woden. They farmed southeast of Woden, until March of
1962, when they retired and moved to an acreage near Woden.

He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church and the American Legion Post # 628 of Woden.

He is survived by his wife, Cora, of Woden; his children, Audrey Gerdes of Woden, Mrs. Mary Leen and her husband, Mark, of Cedar
Falls, Walter Gerdes and his wife, Jennie, of East Wenatchee, WA and Mrs. Martha Kragel and her husband, Wendell, of Newell; 16 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Mrs. Tessie Gerdes of Titonka and Mrs. Bertha Gerdes of Woden.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters and brothers, Mrs. Sina Neilson, Albert Gerdes, Mrs. Anna Kleeman, George Gerdes, Fred Gerdes, Theodore Gerdes, Hilda Gerdes and Herman Gerdes.

source: Leader & Signal, Garner, Iowa, 27 Jul 1988, page 10, column 2