Caledonia Argus

Posted: 1/23/03

Herbert Gerdes

Herbert W. Gerdes, 81, Caledonia, MN, died Tuesday, January 21, 2003, at Gundersen-Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse, WI.

He was born May 31, 1921, in La Crosse to William and Minnie (Carson) Gerdes. Herbert grew up in the Dresbach and Pine Creek area until 1943 when his family moved to Beaver Ridge, rural Caledonia.

On June 7, 1953, he married Charlotte Hartley at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church in rural New Albin, IA. Herbert and Charlotte lived and farmed on Beaver Ridge until 1981, when they moved into Caledonia.

The joys of his life included spending time with his family, working on the dairy farm, carpentry, and living and sharing the goodness of his savior, Jesus.

Survivors include his wife, Charlotte, of Caledonia; two daughters, Connie (Ray) Quan of Bakersfield, CA, and Beverly Gerdes (Craig Larson) of Minneapolis; two sons, William (Carol) Gerdes of Caledonia, Dean (Phoebe) Gerdes of Augusta, WI; a foster daughter, Kathe Beneventi and her three children of Galena, IL; 16 grandchildren; two sisters, Loreen Fokema of Caledonia, Eleanor (Marvin) Ostrom of Mankato; one brother, Gorden (Verna) Gerdes of Dakota; and many nieces and nephews.

Herbert was preceded in death by his parents; a sister in infancy; and two brothers-in-law, Lauren Peterson and Peter Fokema.

Services will be held Friday, January 24, at 1 p.m at Calvary Ev. Free Church, Spring Grove. Rev. Dick Wohlgemuth and Rev. Jerry VanRavenhorst will officiate. Burial is at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church Cemetery, rural New Albin. Friends may call at Haugen-Roble-Jandt Funeral Home on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and at the church on Friday from noon until the time of service.

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