Leona V. Gerdes Andersen

Leona Vanita Gerdes Andersen, 94, of Red Wing and Maiden Rock died Saturday, June 18, 2016 at the St. Elizabeth's Health Care Center in Wabasha. She was born on April 11, 1922 in a log house in Esdaile, Wisconsin to Horace and Carrie Jennings. She was the second of four children. She attended Warrentown Elementary School and grew up learning how to cook, baking bread at age 13. In her younger years she helped Dr. Anderson and Dr. Rice in the Maiden Rock and Plum City areas as a live-in caretaker for their patients. At 17 she moved to Worthington to help family and also worked at Booty's Egg Company, candling eggs. She married Walter Gerdes on September 7, 1941. To this union three children were born, David, Linda and Lola. They lived in Minneapolis for many years where she worked as a manager at McDonalds in Bloomington and Minneapolis. For a short time she and Walter moved to Missouri where she worked at a daycare at a church. Retiring in 1979 they returned to Minnesota living in Red Wing and then moved to Maiden Rock in 1983. She started a care-center at her home called GG's Place taking care of local residents. Walter died in 1992. On October 19, 1996 she married Ed Andersen. He would help Leona at her care center. Ed died on February 13, 2005. She enjoyed traveling over the years with family and spending time with her grandchildren.
Survivors include one son, David (Bonnie) Gerdes of Nelson, Wisconsin and their children and grandchildren, Lona (Chuck), and LeNae (Chris), Tyler, Caleb, Carrianna, Bronson, Carli Amberlee, Lacey Bea, Kora and Jude; one daughter, Linda Jerpbak of Plano, Texas and her children and grandchildren, Kristiane and Eric (Jennifer), Quinn, Jacquis and Brianna and Lola's children and grandchildren, Ammie (Jay), Gina (Brian) Krystine, Jessica, Amanda and Joshua and their children, Isaiah, Mia, Sam, and Jordan; one son-in-law, David Widmyer and three step-children, Dale, Carol and Judy. She is preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; one daughter, Lola in 2005; step-son, Steve; two brothers, Forrest and Gordon Jennings; one sister, LaVina Hague McKinley and one great grandson, Cole.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel. Burial will be in the Maiden Rock Cemetery. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Memorials are preferred to Church on the Rock 7901 Red Oak Dr. NE Moundsview, MN 55112. Online condolences may be sent to www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.

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Visitation

JUN 21. 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (CDT)

Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel
602 Plum Street P.O. Box 111
Red Wing, MN 55066

Service

JUN 21. 2:00 PM (CDT)

Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel
602 Plum Street P.O. Box 111
Red Wing, MN 55066