Gerdes, Joella J. (Beenblossom) 1922-2004

GERDES, BEENBLOSSOM, TIDBALL, OAKES, MITCHELL

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 4/12/2004 at 23:41:40

Joella J. Gerdes
April 12, 2004

Joella J. Gerdes, 81, of Washington, Iowa, died Sunday, April 11, 2004, at Halcyon House after a long illness.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Jones-Eden Funeral Home in Washington, with the Rev. Scott Nesbitt officiating. Burial will be at Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington.

Visitation begins at noon Tuesday at the funeral home, with family visitation from 6-8 p.m.

Memorials may be made to Halcyon House, Ainsworth Community Church or Washington County Hospice.

Mrs. Gerdes was born June 11, 1922, in Ainsworth, the daughter of Howard and Myrtle Tidball Beenblossom. She married Harold Gerdes Oct. 5, 1940, in Washington.

A lifelong resident of Washington County, she graduated from Ainsworth High School, and was a homemaker after marriage.

Mrs. Gerdes was a member of the Ainsworth Community Church. In addition, she was active in community organizations, including the Log Cabin Questers, WSCS, Sunshine Community Club, and a sewing club. She was a 4-H leader for many years.

Survivors include her husband; one son, William Gerdes and wife Linda of Dubuque; two daughters, Linda Oakes and husband Denny of Fairfield, and Patti Mitchell and husband Jerry of Iowa City; seven grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one stepgreat-grandchild; and one brother, Charles Beenblossom of Surprise, Ariz.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and one sister.

Courtesy of the Fairfield Daily Ledger Inc. 2004