Junior Gerken received his gift of eternal life on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013, at Chanute HealthCare Center.
Junior was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Gerken, who came as newlyweds to take a homestead three miles east of Humboldt in 1861. They also were charter members of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, which was founded in 1863.
Junior was born on Nov. 15, 1920, to Henry G. Gerken and Emma Pieper Gerken, and lived his entire life on the family farm, until failing health forced him to move to a care home in 2007. Junior attended Central Avenue School until completion of the eighth grade and then began his farming career with his father. He had a lifelong passion for steam engines and railroading. He also was a noted historian about Allen County and had an amazing memory of extreme weather events and history of Allen County.
Junior was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, where he was baptized and confirmed and also served as head usher for 50 years. He trained and instructed many young men on how to serve the church in this manner.
Junior was preceded in death by his parents, Henry C. and Emma Gerken, and two brothers, Walter and Elmer. He is survived by a cousin, Mary Numerich, Albuquerque, N.M., and distant cousins, Tom, Tim, and Barry Gerken, Denise Gerken Geier, and Terri Sinclair.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Humboldt, where visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, Humboldt. Memorials to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.
Junior Gerken
