Eleanore Gerdes

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Eleanore Gerdes, 89
Eleanore Gerdes, 89, of Austin, passed into the presence of her Lord on Jan. 29, 2009 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home.
Eleanore was born on Sept. 11, 1919 to George and Meta (Boehlje) Gerdes in Mason City, Iowa, and lived there until she went to Chicago to attend Moody Bible Institute, graduating in 1948. She was an accountant for some business men in downtown Chicago and after they retired she did accounting for smaller business people. She worked well past retirement age because she enjoyed it so much. Eleanore accepted Christ as her personal savior as a young lady and served the Lord in many ways in her church, teaching Sunday School, leading women’s groups and more. Her hobbies were needlework, cooking, decorative painting, beautiful paper tole pictures and she loved the Cubs. In 1998 she left Chicago to live in Austin and be closer to family. As her health declined she moved into St. Mark’s Assisted Living in 2002 and then to the full care units in 2004. She enjoyed her life there, making many friends and participating in outings, crafts and the many activities there. She was loved for her quips and humor and kept a great sense of humor even when her body was failing her. The people who cared for her made her happy and she was always grateful to them for taking such good care of her. She had a special place in her heart for her nieces and nephews and was always interested in them and what they were doing.
She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Robert (Orinne) Nagel, Austin, Betty (Ray) Gillson, Austin, Phyllis (Gaylen) Lastine, Austin, Susan and Gary Gerdes, Mason City, Iowa, Shirley (Verle) Sterns, Arkansas, Barbara (Don) Danielson and Edward (Betty) Gorham, Tacoma, Wash., Mary JoAnn (Marvin) Barfield, Des Moines, Iowa, Pam Bowler, Theresa Bowler, Judy Gerdes, Minneapolis, Carol Mahrenholz, Georgia, Chuck Stepleton, Ventura, Iowa, Ken Gerdes, Iowa, Barbara Gerdes, Florida, Ronald Gerdes, Minneapolis.
Eleanore was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Clara Gorham, Ann (Jerry) Stepleton, Ella (Ernest) Nagel, brothers William, Robert, Donald and Alvin Gerdes.
A memorial service will be held in the Living Room at St. Mark’s on Friday, Feb. 6, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. with Chaplain Pam Solberg officiating. Refreshments will precede the service at 10. Interment will be in Elmwood-St Joseph Cemetery in Mason City, Iowa in the spring. Memorials may be made to St. Mark’s Lutheran Home.

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