Vernon Gericke

VERNON J. GERICKE

Cedar Rapids

Vernon J. Gericke, 93, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Feb. 3, 2022, at Cottage Grove Place in Cedar Rapids. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. The visitation will be an hour prior to service, starting at 1 p.m. at the chapel. Interment to follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website under the obituary for Vernon J. Gericke, under the video tab starting at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18.

Vernon J. Gericke was born Aug. 2, 1928, in Postville, he was the son of Eldo and Ceasil (Schutte) Gericke. He graduated from Postville in 1946. After graduating, he enlisted in the Army (Fort Bragg) from 1946-1948. He obtained his bachelor's in accounting and his Juris Doctorate in Law from the University of Iowa. On Sept. 13, 1953, he married Marty Miller of Cedar Rapids at the First Congregational Church.

While in high school and in the summer during his undergraduate career at Iowa, Vernon worked for the Milwaukee Railroad as a depot agent. He had many stories to tell of his time on the railroad traveling through Iowa into South Dakota and Illinois. After graduating from Iowa with his bachelor's degree in 1954, Vernon started working for the State of Iowa as a bank examiner. He continued his work as a bank examiner until he was accepted into the Iowa Law School. Upon his graduation in 1958, Vernon moved back to his hometown of Postville, where he practiced law for eight8 years. He later moved to Cedar Rapids, where he worked as the vice president of the Trust Department for People's Bank (later acquired by Wells Fargo) for 25 years until his retirement in 1994.

Vernon was fond of his Iowa Hawkeyes, and he watched or attended as many football and basketball games as he could. In their retirement years, Vernon and Marty traveled the world on cruises. Some of his favorite trips were to Europe, Panama Canal and Alaska. No matter where they went, Vernon could be found with a camera in his hand taking pictures. He also always had a smile on his face when he visited his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Vernon is survived by his wife, Marty; daughters, Sue (Steven) Rogers of Danville, and Karen (Lynn) Bainter of Wichita; grandchildren, Michael, Scot, Courtney (James) and Allison; great-grandchildren, Zoey, Jaxon and Ember; and a niece, Laurel (Dean).

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, LaMont; sister, Marlene; niece, Lynda; and several cousins.

Memorials may be made in Vernon's name to St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.