Bakken, Gerald Wayne 1932 - 2023
BAKKEN, ANDERSON, FADNESS, GRONNA, LUNDAHL, SAMUELSON, LEISTIKOW, LUNDEEN
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 1/14/2023 at 11:42:17
Gerald Bakken age 90 of Decorah, IA passed away on Friday, January 6, 2023, at his home.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at the Madison Lutheran Church with Rev. Nathan Wicks presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A lunch will follow the service at the Ridgeway Community Center, 690 County St., Ridgeway, IA 52165.
Visitation will be from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 27, 2023, at the Madison Lutheran Church and also after 9:30 on Saturday morning.
In Lieu of flowers: memorials may be sent to Gerald's family at: 2584 Madison Rd, Decorah, IA 52101
Gerald Wayne Bakken was born to Ole and Pauline on October 24th, 1932. He grew up west of Decorah, attending country school until 8th grade and graduating from Decorah High School with the class of 1951. Gerald’s life was centered around farming and horses from the very beginning, raking hay with a team of horses by age 6. Gerald met his wife-to-be, Darla Anderson, in primary school, they dated in high school and married on January 2nd, 1955. Darla and Gerald moved to their homestead on Madison Road and put in water and heat that first year. There they built their life farming and raising their children, Lynn and Gary. In their free time they went dancing, rode horses, traveled the country with friends and played many games of cards. Gerald spent over 30 years on the REC Board of Directors, spent most of his life involved with the Winneshiek County Saddle club and was a lifelong member of the Decorah ELKS Lodge and Madison Lutheran Church.
Gerald was a steady and caring grandpa and was adored by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He spent most summer days and school afternoons with his grandchildren by his side. He taught them young to care for animals, to drive a truck across the pasture as he threw bales out the back, the importance of checking fences and was a stickler on farm safety. A typical day on the farm was never complete unless you had spent your dinner watching Days of Our Lives and came in for 3pm lunch with homemade dessert by Grandma or an ice cream sundae. His family will fondly remember the life he created for them and will never forget his spunk and tender heart or his homemade waffles and chocolate-banana malts. In 2019, Gerald finally decided to fully retire from farming at the age of 87. He loved being outside on the farm and went on daily walks. Gerald was a dedicated and unwavering husband, caring for Darla after she suffered a stroke in 1996 and later in life, he became her full-time caregiver before she moved into a nursing home in late 2019. Darla died on February 7th, 2021. Gerald continued to live in their home until he died on January 6th, 2023, at the age of 90.
Left to grieve his memory are his children, Lynn (Dave) Fadness and Gary (Rhonda) Bakken; grandchildren, Laura (Ryan) Gronna, Paul Fadness, Britney (Jay Lundahl) Bakken, Courtney (Reece Samuelson) Bakken; step-grandchildren, Troy (Casie) Fadness and Travis Fadness; great-grandchildren, Maya & Hadley Gronna, Kolton & Emma Drahn, Alyla Lundahl and step-great-grandchildren Hannah & Maxwell Fadness. Gerald will be lovingly remembered by his sister Phyllis Leistikow, sisters-in-law, Mary Anne Bakken, Rosemary (Mike) Mehl and Sharon Anderson, brothers-in-law Terry (Rose) Anderson and Herb Lundeen, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Gerald was preceded in death by his wife, Darla Bakken, his parents, Ole and Pauline Bakken, mother and father-in-law, Leon and Tinka Anderson, brothers Roger [in infancy] and Howard, brothers-in-law Ralph Leistikow and Arden Anderson, sister-in-law Sylvia Lundeen and beloved grandson, Alan Fadness.
Source: Helms Funeral Home database
Madison Lutheran Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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