Wilfred "Willie" Gerken

September 18, 1929 - January 28, 2020

Wilfred H. “Willie” Gerken, 90, of Napoleon, Ohio died peacefully on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at Genacross- Napoleon Lutheran Home. He was born on September 18, 1929 in Defiance County, Ohio to the late Herman W. and Dorothy (Behnfeldt) Gerken. On October 16, 1955, he married Arlene (Meyer) Gerken at St. John Lutheran Church Freedom Twp. Ohio and they shared 64 wonderful years of faith and family together. Willie enlisted in the United States Airforce and served in the Korean Conflict. Afterwards he started as a mechanic for Meineke Farm Sales and Service and started farming. It wasn’t long until he found his true calling and became a full-time farmer. He was a faithful member of St. John Lutheran Church Freedom Twp. and a member of the Ridgeville American Legion. He is also survived by his children, Sandy (Tom) Von Deylen, Stan (Cathy) Gerken, Sara (David) Myles, and Scott (Lori) Gerken; 13 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren; and siblings, Norma Hogrefe, Robert (Arlene) Gerken, and Arleen Roos and sister-in-law, Irma Rohrs. He was preceded in death by 3 infant great grandchildren and a brother, Donald. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 2 at St. John Lutheran Church Freedom Twp. Interment will follow at the church cemetery where military honors will be accorded by the Ridgeville American Legion. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 2-8 p.m. at Rodenberger-Gray Funeral Home, Napoleon and Sunday from 1-2 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. John Lutheran Church Freedom Twp. Home Fund.