Gerleman, Dennis J. 1955 - 2024

GERLEMAN, GELING, ARNESS, EISNER, FRANTZ, JUMP-GERLEMAN, FLACK, KAGEMANN, NEUZIL

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/5/2024 at 10:58:06

Dennis J. Gerleman, age 68, of Decorah, IA passed away on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at his home following a long illness. He was surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 5, 2024, at Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago Street, Decorah, IA with Rev. Peter Kowitz presiding.

Visitation will be Thursday, April 4, 2024, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Helms Funeral Home, 306 East Water St., Decorah, IA, and also after 10:00 a.m., at the church Friday morning.

Dennis was born on July 13, 1955, to Hugo and Leona (Geling) Gerleman, Ossian, IA. He was raised on a farm outside of Ossian, IA, and was the fourth child out of nine children born to the Gerleman clan. He attended grade school in Ossian at St. Francis de Sales Catholic School and graduated from South Winneshiek High School in Calmar, IA in 1973. After graduation from high school, he went to work at CamCar Textron in Decorah, IA, where he was employed for 43 years. On October 11, 1975, Dennis was united in marriage to Ruth Arness at Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah, IA. Four children were born to this marriage, and they raised their family in Decorah, IA.

Dennis enjoyed gardening, fishing, playing cards, and spending time with his grandchildren, often babysitting them. Many weekends you could find him at his camping spot at Black Hawk Park along the Mississippi River with his kids and grandkids. You can be sure the fishing stories were endless, and the fish grew bigger each year as they sat around the bonfire. Often you would find him just sitting and pondering life quietly which gained him the nickname “Ponder”. He enjoyed playing cards with his siblings while visiting his mother in the nursing home in Ossian in later years while she was alive. Many family get-togethers involved several poker games with his brothers, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews and sometimes his sisters were even allowed to join the game. Dennis often talked of the fun he had with family playing cards and enjoyed this with his children and grandchildren, even up until his final days. He will be greatly missed by his family and the card games and fishing will be a legacy to carry on, however, they won’t quite be the same without him.

Dennis is survived by his wife of 48 years, Ruth, of Decorah, IA, his children Brenda Elsner of Decorah, IA, Eric (Shelly Jump) Gerleman, of Decorah, IA, John Gerleman and Lisa Gerleman both of Decorah, IA. Grandchildren: Cheyenne (Isaac) Frantz, Bettendorf, IA, Montana Jump-Gerleman and Sierra Jump-Gerleman both of Decorah, IA, Dustin Elsner and Joseph Elsner both of Decorah, IA, and Benjamin Flack of Houston, MN. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters: Elizabeth Gerleman of Cresco, IA, Duane (Marsha) Gerleman of Monona, IA, Lorraine (Paul) Kagemann of West Des Moines, IA, Dale (Betty) Gerleman of Ossian, IA, David (Robyn) Gerleman of Plainfield, IA, Dan (Dee) Gerleman of Spillville, IA, Dean (Deb) Gerleman of Chippewa Falls, WI, Mary Ann (Kevin) Neuzil of Cresco, IA, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and his beloved dog Scrappy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hugo and Leona Gerleman. Father-in-law and mother-in-law: Francis and Erma Arness. Brother-in-law: Robert Arness. infant grandson, grandparents, uncles, aunts, niece Kymm Gerleman, and his beloved dog Lucky.

Source: Helms Funeral Home database