Josephine Gerke's Obituary
Josephine Helen Gerke died on Wednesday, March 3rd at the age of 92. She had been a resident of The Alverno in Clinton, Iowa. Mass of the Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Saturday, March 6, 2010 at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Burial will be at a later date. A luncheon will be at St. Boniface Hall 2520 Pershing Blvd following the church service. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 pm Friday, March 5, 2010 at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Home and Crematory. Josephine (Cramblet) Gerke was born on January 16, 1918 in Boone, Iowa to Catherine Agnes Garvey and Thomas Edward Cramblet. Many of her ancestors had immigrated from Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland with many of them later living in Boone. She spent her early years in Boone, eventually moving with her Mother and Step-father to Clinton in her teens. Her Mother “Aggie” owned and operated The Anchorage boat docks in Clinton. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1936. She married Edward Anderson. They had four children. She later married Frederick Gerke in 1967. During her life-time, she had worked at several jobs to help support her family. Those included Clinton Garment Co., Ketelsen Grocery, Eble Office Supply, and Clinton Corn Processing. She retired from Clinton Corn and along with Fred spent many winters in Pharr, Texas. Jo was a member of Prince of Peace Parish, Clinton Women’s Club, Mercy Hospital Auxiliary, and Christian Women’s group. She is survived by three daughters, Lynn (Jim) McGraw, Janet (David) Brown, Jolene (Edward) Burnett and one son, Victor Anderson (wife Katherine deceased), two step-daughters, Georgia Vorheis and Betty (Victor) Barr. Also, 7 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 2 step-great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Fred Gerke, a sister, Ruth Romer, and a daughter-in-law, Katie Anderson. Memorials may be made to: Parkinson’s Disease Association, Parkinson Plaza, 135 Parkinson Ave., Staten Island, NY 10305 Genesis Hospice, 611 No. Second St., Clinton, Iowa 52732 Prince of Peach Parish, P.O. Box 578, Clinton, Iowa 52733-0578
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