Marjory Lucille Gerken

Marjory Lucille Gerken, age 85, died at the Carroll Health Center on September 19, 2014. Marge was born in Corning, Iowa on June 2, 1929. Funeral services will be held at St. John's Catholic Church in Arcadia at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, September 23, 2014. Visitation will be held on Monday, September 22nd at Ohde Twit Funeral Home starting at 4:00 PM in Carroll. A Rosary will be prayed at 5:00 PM. She is preceded in death by her husband Arthur Gerken; her parents William and Margaret Sullivan; brothers Leo, George, Vincent. She is survived by brothers, Thomas, Missouri City, TX, Edward, Lawrenceville, GA. Sister Kathryn, Indianapolis,IN, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. After grade and high school in Corning she graduated from Creighton Nursing Training in Omaha, NE as a Registered Nurse. She immediately left to care for polio victims in Texas where there was a polio epidemic. There she was in charge of the Iron Lung Ward. When the epidemic subsided she assisted moving the remaining patients to other locations before taking a position in charge of surgical nurses at the University of Iowa Hospital. She later transferred to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines where she met her husband Art. They were married on September 5, 1959 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Corning before moving to the Gerken family farm near Arcadia. They were active in community projects. Marge, as she was known, was quick to assist in any medical emergency. She was known as the community nurse and was honored by the Governor of Iowa for her community services. She will be remembered for the thousands of gladiolas and other flowers she grew as a Master Gardener. She will be missed by all those who knew of her, especially because of her love for others. May God grant her eternal rest. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association in Marge's name. Celebrant Father Gary Snyder Gift Bearers Pat Vogel Music "Ave Maria" "Glory and Praise to Our God" "I Am the Bread of Life" "How Great Thou Art" St. John's Choir Darlene Leiting, Organist Casket Bearers Don Gerken Doug Gerken Art Bruch Keith Freese Paul Schrad Craig Schrad