Verna Katherine Gerken

Verna Katherine Gerken, 94, of Lake City, died on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at St. Brigid's at High Park in Red Wing. Verna was born on November 14, 1919 to Albert and Siena (Nehring) Grote in Wacouta Township, Goodhue County. She attended rural school District 25 in Pleasant Valley, Wabasha County. On September 5, 1941 Verna was united in marriage to Bernard Gerken at St. John's Lutheran Church in Frontenac. Verna raised her family and was a homemaker. She and Bernard farmed in Lake Township and then moved to the home farm in 1948 in Gilford Township. She belonged to the Rose Garden Club, Trinity Lutheran Ladies Aid and sang in their choir. She was also a janitor and Sunday school teacher at Trinity Lutheran. She was a group leader for the Gilford Golden Gophers 4-H Group. Verna loved gardening and raising her chickens. She competed in the local county fairs with entries including breads, flowers, vegetables and her homemade angel food cake. She was an avid canner also. Verna wrote many notes to family and friends over the years and kept a diary up until her death.
Verna is survived by her sons: Dwain (Marilyn) Gerken of Lake City; Robert (Lesley) Gerken of Lake City; Curtis (Judy) Gerken of Neenah, WI; 8 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren; two brothers: Charles (Mary) Grote of Hastings, MN; Virgil (Joanne) Kunde of Virginia and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband on March 16, 2012, one brother: Virgil Grote and her son Bruce in 2013.
Funeral service will be held on Monday, February 24, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Lincoln Trinity Lutheran Church with Reverend Tim Learman officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Anderson-Peterson Chapel in Lake City and one hour prior to church on Monday. Spring burial will be in the church cemetery.

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Visitation

FEB 23. 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (CST)

Mahn Family Funeral Home, Anderson-Peterson Chapel
1022 West Lyon Ave P.O. Box 90
Lake City, MN 55041

Visitation

FEB 24. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (CST)

Trinity Lincoln Lutheran Church
Lincoln Rd Wabasha Cty 17
Lake City, MN 55041

Service

FEB 24. 11:00 AM (CST)

Trinity Lincoln Lutheran Church
Lincoln Rd Wabasha Cty 17
Lake City, MN 55041