Gerst, Fredrick Edward

Fredrick Edward Gerst, 91, formerly of Anamosa, died Sunday, March 31, 2013, at the Genesis Medical Center in Davenport. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 4, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Anamosa. Father Tony Kruse will officiate at the service. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Goettsch Funeral Home in Anamosa. Burial will be at St. John's cemetery in Cedar Rapids.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at .

Surviving is his wife, Mary of Bettendorf; Louis Zaspal, Michael Zaspal, Frank Zaspal and Timothy (Maureen) Zaspal; siblings, Nadine Heiserman, Dale (Helen) Gerst and Leo (Lois) Gerst; seven grandchildren, John, Bryan, Tim Jr., Paul, Tim and Dan Zaspal and Lisa Cook; son-in-law, Paul McDonnell; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Woods.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Jackie McDonnell; a brother, George Gerst; and daughter-in-law, Helen Zaspal.

Fredrick Edward Gerst was born May 29, 1921, in Anamosa, Iowa. He was the son of Edward and Ruby Bodenhofer Gerst. Fred graduated from Anamosa High School and attended advanced management at Purdue University. Fred served his country in the United States Navy during World War II entering into service Sept. 4, 1943 and honorably discharged on April 20, 1946. On July 12, 1965, Fred and Mary L. Taber Zaspal were united in marriage in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Fred worked in management for the Rock Island Railroad as freight claims prevention manager until retiring in 1981. He was a member of the Mason's and past grand master, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Bettendorf, Veterans of World War II, American Legion and VFW.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 1506 Brown St., Bettendorf, IA 52722; or Iowa Masonic Health Facilities, 2500 Grant St., Bettendorf, IA 52722.

Published in The Gazette April 3, 2013.