Richard P. Gerdner, 90, of Burlington died at 5:32 a.m., Sunday, April 8, 2018 at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.
Born July 3, 1927 in Burlington, he was the son of William Sr. and Rachel (Drumm) Gerdner. He married Edna Marie Rust on June 30, 1950 in Burlington.
Richard was self-employed, owning Gerdner Rental Properties for 67 years until his retirement in 2017. He played football and graduated from Burlington High School. He served in the US Army during the Korean War. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Burlington. He belonged to the American Legion Post #52 and was an avid Hawkeye, Chicago Bears and Cubs fan. It was a great day when the Cubs won the World Series! He had many interests including going to auctions, attending Cubs games, bowling in a number of leagues, morel mushrooms, weekend trips and rides to rural farm communities with his daughter. Richard truly loved his family.
Survivors include his wife, Edna; daughter, Linda Gerdner of Burlington; sister in law, Helen Gerdner of Burlington, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, William Jr., and Robert; and three sisters, Ruth Fischer, Myrtle Williams and Helen Gerdner (died in childhood).
The funeral for Mr. Gerdner will be 2 p.m. Thursday, April 12th at Lunning Chapel. Chaplain Jay Miiller will officiate. The Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard will conduct military rites. Interment will be in Burlington Memorial Park Cemetery. Family will receive friends 30 minutes prior to the service.
A memorial has been established for the Des Moines County Humane Society.
Goldeen (Dravis) Wirt, 91, of Denmark, died at 5:45 PM Sunday, April 8, 2018, at the Great River Medical Center in West Burlington.
Born March 11, 1927, in Muscatine, IA, she was the daughter of Clarence M. and Ethel Corine Fowler Carr. On August 30, 1943, she married Frank August Dravis in Kahoka, MO, he later passed on February 7, 1973. She then married Calvin Arthur Wirt in Denmark, IA, he later passed on January 13, 1995.
She spent her life as a farming wife.
She was a member of the Denmark United Church of Christ. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, antiquing, auctions, square dancing, bird watching and animals.
Survivors include one son, Dean Dravis of Florida; one daughter, DeAnne (John) Bonar of Denmark; three step-daughters, Katie Wirt of Columbia, MO, Patricia Wirt of Burlington, and Beverly (Mike) Hunter of FL; one step-son, William (Peggy) Wirt of Burlington; several grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her birth parents, as well as, her adopted parents, Mac and Retta McCahan, one son, one grandson, and two sisters.
Visitation will be from 12:00 PM until 7:00 PM Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at Prugh’s Chapel Downtown. The family will receive friends from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM Thursday April 12, 2018 at Prugh’s Chapel Downtown prior to the memorial service.
The memorial service for Goldeen will be 1:00 PM Thursday, April 12, 2018, at Prugh’s Chapel Downtown with Chaplain Randy Langner officiating. Inurnment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery.
Memorials have been established for Denmark Fire and Rescue and P.A.W. Animal Shelter in Ft. Madison.
Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.
Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Goldeen’s obituary at www.prughthielencares.com