Carl William Gerken

Carl William Gerken was born in Freedom Township on July 31, 1895, to Friedrich and Ida Hogrefe Gerken, the fifth of six children. His grandparents, all natives of Verden which is southeast of Bremen, in the province of Hanover, Germany, came to America approximately 1857. His father, Fred, grew up on a farm in Section 29, married, and acquired a farm in Section 27, Road 15B, where Carl was born. When Carl was about seven years old his parents moved to Road 15 where they owned 70 acres and built the home where Mr. Gerken is now living as a retired farmer. During his farming years, he raised various grain crops and had dairy cattle, sheep, hogs, and chickens. He fondly recalls farming with horses and in 1937 purchased his first tractor, which he still drives today. At the time of his marriage his parents bought 20 acres at the corner of Road 15 and County Road U where they lived until their death and where Mr. Gerken's younger sister, Ida, now lives.

Carl and his brothers and sisters received their education at Walcott and St. John's Parochial schools and were members of St. John's Lutheran Church, Freedom Township. Carl and Ida are still active members. On February 16, 1919, he and Caroline Badenhop (born 9-4-1895) were united in marriage. Caroline was the daughter of Henry and Sophia Badenhop. Their union was blessed with three children: August born 2-1-1920, Paul born 12-27-21, and Ruth b1-30-24. On March 13, 1924, Caroline passed away. Mr. Gerken married Clara Hoffman (born 3-4-1903, died 5-5-1972) on November 28, 1928. She was the daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Hoffman, Monroeville, IN, and they had seven children: Norman born 7-22-1930, Dorothy born 12-9-1932, Lydia born 11-29-1935, Miriam born 1-1-1937, Esther born 12-30-1940, Judith bron 4-9-1942, and Eunice born 7-10-1943.

August graduated from Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, IL, and married Avis Spoerri (born 8-3-1922, died 6-9?1966) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 9, 1944. They had nine children: Marie born 4-7-1945, Paul born 12-11-1946, Richard born 1-8- 1948, Jonathan born  9-9-1949, David born 1-17-1951, Mark born 7-11-1952, Elizabeth born 5-16-1954, Jeffrey born 6-14-1956, and Peter born 12-16-1959. August married Pauline Worman (born 6-13-1919) on August 30, 1968, and they live in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, where August now works for Allen Dairy.

Paul graduated as Valedictorian of his class from Ridgeville High School, then served in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a Second Lieutenant Bomber Co-Pilot. He was killed in action in China on December 18, 1944.

Ruth married Lester Maassel (born 6-1-1924), son of Rev. and Mrs. George Maassel, on June 15, 1947. They have been blessed with six children: Robert born 12-7-1948, Mary born 9-29-1950, Richard born 2-23-1952, Ronald born 2-12-1955, Karen born 7-30?1956, and Linda born 11-19-1960. Lester is employed by the Ft. Wayne Community Schools in Ft. Wayne, IN.

Norman began working at Central Foundry in Defiance after his high school graduation and is still employed there in Security. For many years he also has assisted Mr. George Wiemken in his Awning Door & Window Service. On January 31, 1953, he married Carol Helberg (b11-18-34), daughter of Alvin and Mildred Helberg, and they have seven children: Cynthia born 2-11-1954, Brenda born 3-2-1955, Gregg born 7-24-1958, Tamara born 7-19-1959, Joel born 4-29-1962, Janel born 12-8-1968, and Matthew born 2-23-1973.

Dorothy graduated from Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing, Ft. Wayne, IN. On July 23, 1955, she married Harold Kern (born 4-1-1935) of Leesburg, IN, and they have three children: Timothy born 9-21-1956, Teresa born 11-9-1963, and Kristine born 4-14-1965. Dorothy is working in orthopedics at Porter Memorial Hospital and her husband is a social studies teacher and assistant principal at Thomas Jefferson Jr. High School in Valparaiso, IN.

Lydia also graduated from Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing and received her BA degree from Valpraiso University. She married Eldon Hopkins (born 10-3-1941) of Lincoln, WA, on December 31, 1966. They have one child, Eric born 2-16-1972. Lydia is presently working in pediatrics at Wilmington Medical Center and Eldon is employed as a fiscal officer by the Veteran's Administration in Elsmere, DE.

Miriam attended Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, and then received her degree from Idaho State University in 1968. She married Gerald Cooper (born 8-24-1922) from Oakley, ID, on May 26, 1961. They live in Pocatello, ID, where she teaches third grade at Wilcox Elementary and her husband is a general contractor.

Esther married David Plassman (born 5?28-1948) of Leipsic, OH, on November 6,
1971. She is employed in the purchasing department at La Choy Food Products and her husband is an electrical engineer presently working as a maintenance general foreman at Central Foundry, Defiance, OH.

Judith graduated from Concordia Teachers College, River Forest and received her master's degree from Ohio State University. After teaching secondary math and science courses several years on military bases in Okinawa, the Philippines, the Azores, and Germany, Judy is now studying pharmacy at Northeastern University in Boston, MA.

Eunice also graduated from Concordia Teachers College, River Forest and received her MS degree from Indiana University. She married Lyle McPherson (born 7-6-1945) of Memphis, MO on November 28, 1969, and they have one child, Tasha born 7-7-1970. At the present time, Eunice is teaching learning disabilities at James R. Allen School and Lyle is a medical service corps officer at Ft. Knox, KY. There are two great-grandchildren: Gina Ann born 5-13-1977, daughter of Jonathan and Cristie Gerken and Jon Paul born 1-8-1978, son of Paul and Barbara Gerken.

Submitted by: Esther Plassman