Kenneth I. Gerdes

Kenneth I. Gerdes, age 91, passed away peacefully at Bridge Hospice in Bowling Green, Ohio, on July 3, 2015, and joined his beloved wife and our mother, Esther, in heaven. Kenneth was born at home in Grand Rapids, Ohio, on March 30, 1924. He was the youngest son of Peter and Dena (Good) Gerdes. He was raised on the family farm in rural Grand Rapids with his brother, Harold and his sister, Thelma. Kenneth graduated from Grand Rapids High School, Grand Rapids, Ohio in 1942, where he played on the basketball team. It was in high school where he met the love of his life, Esther Wade. These high school sweethearts were married on January 24, 1943 and were happily married for nearly 63 years before Esther’s death on September 8, 2006. Kenneth served in the U.S. Army during WWII and was stationed in the China Burma India Theatre. After he was discharged from the army, he returned home to farming for a short time and then went to work for the Champion Spark Plug Company in Toledo, Ohio. He was a supervisor in the extrusion department, retiring in 1986. After retirement, they moved from Delta, Ohio, to a farm in rural McClure that had been in Kenneth’s family over 100 years. Kenneth was a member of the McClure United Methodist Church, the Roberts McMillen Post # 332 of the American Legion in McClure, Ohio; Fulton Lodge #248 of the Free and Accepted Masons in Delta, Ohio, where he served as a Past Master, Triune Chapter #344 of the Order of the Eastern Star, and The Valley of Toledo Scottish Rite. Kenneth is survived by his wonderful children, Patricia Gerdes of Toledo, OH, Donald (Judi Yevtich) Gerdes of Delta, OH and Beverly Gerdes, McClure, OH. He is also survived by four loving grandchildren, Christopher (Renee) Gerdes, Danielle (Ben) DeBow, Milissa (James) Ford-Charter, and James Ford (Brandy Rollf). He was also the proud grandfather to nine loving great-grandchildren, Spencer and Owen Gerdes, CJ and Vivian DeBow, Kenneth, Austin and Adrianna Charter and Patrick and Bryton Ford. Kenneth is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, friends and special grand-dog, Oscar. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, brother, Harold, sister, Thelma Slamka, and infant son, William. Visitation will be Tuesday, July 7, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. prior to her service at the Rodenberger Funeral Home in McClure, Ohio. Masonic services will be held at 7:00 p.m.on Tuesday evening. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 8, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at Rodenberger Funeral Home in McClure, Ohio. Burial will be held privately at Hockman Cemetery, McClure, Ohio where military honors will be accorded by the McClure Roberts-McMillan American Legion Post #332. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the McClure United Methodist Church, 430 S. East Street, P.O. Box 24, McClure, Ohio, or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Greater Cincinnati Chapter, 4420 Carver Woods Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio 45242, or the charity of the donor’s choice. The family would like to thank the staff of the ER and ICU at Wood County Hospital and Bridge Hospice of Bowling Green, Ohio, for their kind and compassionate care. Online condolences may be made at www.rodenbergerfuneralhome.com.

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Kenneth I. Gerdes

March 30, 1924 - July 3, 2015