Gericke, Merle

Merle Gericke, 83, of Walker, died Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, at Hiawatha Care Center, Hiawatha. Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Walker United Methodist Church. Burial: Troy MIlls Cemetery, Troy Mills. Family will greet friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the church. Arrangements by Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Betty of Walker; children, Ron (Karrie) Gericke of West Chester, Pa., and Randy (Lorri) Gericke of South Bend, Ind.; brothers, Milo “Mike” Gericke of Walker, Dale (Joyce) Gericke of Montour and William “Bill” (Susan) Gericke of Central City; grandchildren, John-Wesley, Lyndsey, Ryan (Elizabeth) and Chris (Kelly); and great-grandchild, Brooke.

Merle was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Thelma Gericke; two sisters, Marge Kimmerle and Doris Williams; and two brothers, Paul and Kenneth Gericke.

Merle was born April 23, 1929, in Solon, Iowa, son of Frederick and Thelma (Kirkpatrick) Gericke. He attended Prairie School near Walker. Merle was a farmer in Iowa, Illinois and Texas. He later joined the U.S. Army where he served during the Korean War. Merle then returned to Iowa where he worked at Wilson Packing. On June 21, 1953, he married Betty Polk at the Troy Mills Methodist Church. The couple farmed for 30 years in Strawberry Point, where he later retired and drove school buses for 17 years.

Merle was a former member of Community Bible of Strawberry Point and the Walker American Legion. The couple loved country dancing. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling and was a woodworker. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family.

Please sign the online guest book for Merle at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published Sept. 17, 2012 in The Gazette