Gerst, Liberty A.

GERST, MESSNER, FRANK

Posted By: Nancy Wagner (email)
Date: 12/27/2010 at 18:49:55

November 19, 2009 –The Wapello Republican - Accompanied by a photo
Liberty A. Gerst

Liberty A. ‘Lib’ Gerst, 91, of Wapello, Iowa, went home to be with the Lord at 8:50 p.m., Thursday, November 12, 2009, at the Wapello Nursing & Rehab Center.

Lib was born on April 6, 1918 at West Bend, Iowa, the daughter of Ernest and Anna Messner Frank. She graduated from Gaylord, Minnesota High School in 1935 and became converted in the Apostolic Christian Church at Winthrop, Minnesota at the age of 18. She married Richard H. Gerst of Oakville, Iowa on January 13, 1946 in Burlington, Iowa. He preceded her in death on July 29, 2008.

She was a loving wife and mother and worked on the farm with her husband for many years.

Lib is survived by her four sons; Steven & Bonnie Gerst of Congerville, Illinois, Wallace & Donna Gerst of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jeffrey Gerst of Wapello and Kevin and Selena Gerst of Wapello; ten grandchildren, Tiffany Gerst, Trista Ulrich, Tadd Gerst, Sarah Ooms, Jacob Gerst, Jonathan Gerst, Stephanie Huber, Joshua Gerst, Minda Swisher and Colllin Gerst; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Rich; a great-granddaughter, Alayna Gerst; two brothers, William and Ernest; and seven sisters, Ester, Martha, Evelyn, Augusta, Leola, Majoria, and Betty.

The funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 16, 2009, at the Apostolic Christian Church, Oakville, with the Ministers of the Church officiating. Burial followed at the Apostolic Christian Church Cemetery, Oakville.

Visitation was Sunday at the Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home at Wapello where the family met with friends in the evening.

A memorial fund was established for the benefit of the Oakville Apostolic Christian Church Building Fund and the Apostolic Home for the Handicapped at Morton, Illinois.

Lib’s purpose in life was to glorify God, both in life and in death. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints.” Psalm 116:15.