John Fred William Cerka aka William J. Cerka (1833-1914)

CERKA, GORSE, GOERSE, MADSEN, BALLINGER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/5/2022 at 18:18:41

From Nevada Representative January 5, 1915 (page 4)

County Correspondence

ZEARING

John Fred William Cerka died Dec. 25, 1914 at the home of his son Frank Cerka three miles southeast of Zearing where for a number of years he has made his home. He was born in Germany July 17, 1833. In 1863 he came to America and located in Chicago, Cook county, Ill. He came to Story county, Iowa 45 years ago and has since made this the place of his residence. He was united in marriage to Fredrica Goerse on May 3, 1863. To this union six children were born four sons and two daughters. His wife passed away Feb. 25, 1894. The children are Fred of Colo, Ia., Mrs. Joanna Modsen [Johanna Madsen] of Huron, S. Dakota, Mrs. Ester Ballinger, Henry, Frank and Ben Cerka of Zearing. Besides these he leaves to mourn their loss three brothers and three sisters and a number of other relatives and friends. Mr. Cerka was a good and faithful husband and father. He was loved and respected by all who knew him, and will be greatly missed by his many friends. Funeral services were held in the Evangelical church in Zearing Dec. 28, 1914 and were conducted by Rev. J. G. Walz of Cedar Rapids, Ia., assisted by Rev. Busenburg of Zearing after which the remains were laid to rest in Zearing cemetery.