KOERNER, Gerald Leon "Gary" (1907-2003)

KOERNER, LAU, RULE, SANDOVAL, BRIDGES, RIDDER, GELNER

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/29/2013 at 15:05:52

Gary (Gerald) L. Koerner, of Klemme, died on Saturday, March 1, 2003, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Unit in Mason City. He was 95.

Memorial services were held on Thursday, March 6, at the Klemme United Methodist Church. The Rev. Paddy Druhl officiated. The Tenold-Andrews Funeral
Home of Klemme was in charge of the arrangements.

Gerald Leon Koerner, was born on June 8, 1907 in Klemme. He was the son of Albert and Lillie (Lau) Koerner. He grew up on the family farm on the edge of Klemme and graduated from the Klemme High School in 1925. The family pioneered telephone service in Klemme and Gerald worked in many capacities for the Koerner Telephone Company.

Following graduation from high school, he headed West with friends and found employment as an extra in silent movies, farm hand, in the oil fields, dock worker and other employment. He returned to Klemme and spent a year as part of
a threshing crew and later as a powder monkey for a quarry near Omaha.

While working as a lineman for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Storm Lake, he met Bernice A. Rule. They were married on May 20, 1934 in Klemme. The couple moved to southern California in 1964, where they managed motels in Orange County. Mr. Koerner was employed at the Millikan High School in Long Beach. He retired in 1977.

The Koerners returned to Klemme where he provided most of the labor and knowledge to construct their home. He worked at the Mix Mill and was often seen mowing his lawn until the age of 94. Mr. Koerner was a talented woodworker and carpenter. He enjoyed word puzzles and travel.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Bernice Koerner; a son, Terry L. Koerner and his wife, Diana of Stratham, New Hampshire; a daughter, Kathleen Sandoval of Sunnyvale, California; a grandson, Michael Sandoval of Reno, Nevada; and a sister, Valeria Bridges.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Kermit; and sisters, Dolores Ridder and Nova Gelner.