GERLACH, Martha (Gayer)( Dierks) 1909-2008

GERLACH, DIERKS, GAYER, TANK, BAUDER, INTORF, JONES, WASSER

Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 11/23/2012 at 21:35:30

Home Town: Rock Rapids, Iowa formerly of Rock Valley, Iowa
Died: Sun., Nov. 30, 2008

Service: Thurs., Dec. 4, 2008
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Porter Funeral Home
1704 15th St.
Rock Valley, Iowa 51247

Rock Rapids, Iowa -- Martha Gerlach, 99, formerly of Rock Valley, died Sunday, November 30, 2008 at Rock Rapids Health Centre. Funeral Service will be 10:30 am Thursday at Porter Funeral Home, Rock Valley. Burial will be at Peace Lutheran Cemetery south of Rock Valley. Visitation will be Wednesday at Porter Funeral Home but no family visitation.

Martha Gayer was born October 29, 1909 southwest of Rock Valley, daughter of Fredrick and Alvina (Tank) Gayer. She married Herman Dierks on December 18, 1928. Together they farmed near Rock Valley and south of Inwood, Iowa until they retired and moved to Rock Rapids, Iowa in 1962. Herman died on January 20, 1981.

Martha married Rev. Anton Gerlach on December 23, 1984 in Rock Rapids, Iowa. They lived at Rock Rapids and then George, Iowa. Rev. Anton died on December 28, 1993. Martha moved to the Rock Rapids Health Centre on August 4, 2003.

Surviving relatives include her daughter, Mary Ann (Dick) Bahnson of Spokan, Wash.; daughter-in-law, Francis Dierks of Cambridge, Maryland; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren; a brother, Robert (Lura) Gayer of Rock Valley; and five sisters: Minnie Bauder of Hawarden, Iowa, Esther Bauder of Rock Valley, Ann Wasser of Hawarden, Iowa, Dorothy Jones of San Diego, Calif., Marcia (Walter) Intorf of Osage, Iowa.

Martha was preceded in death by her two husbands, Herman Dierks and Rev. Anton Gerlach; infant children, Joan and Joel; sons, Carl and Fred Dierks; brother, Fred Gayer; sisters Emma Moeller and Louise Heuer.

Source: Porter Funeral Home website.