RICHARD W. GERKEN

Richard W. Gerken is a farmer in Freedom Township. This farm is located in the northwest quarter of Section 35. He and his wife purchased this farm on May 7 , 1948, from Carl H. Meyer and have called it their home since that date. Mr. Gerken is a grower of small grain and he also keeps a herd of dairy cows along with hogs.

His parents were the late Herman Gerken and Minnie (Bischoff) Gerken of Freedom Township. Mr. Gerken is the youngest of a family of four sons and seven daughters. He was born on July 3, 1915.

Mr. Gerken was united in marriage to Miss Marie A. Rohrs, the daughter of George Rohrs and Anna (Dehnke) Rohrs on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1938, in St. John's Lutheran Church, Freedom Township, by Rev. Geo. Maassel. Mr. and Mrs. Gerken established their first home on a farm in Section 36 of Freedom Township. After several years the Gerkens moved to an 87 acre farm in Section 33 of Napoleon Township. Here they continued the farming until March of 1949 when they moved to their present owned home and farm.

Mr. Gerken was very active in the operation and affairs of The Napoleon Grain and Stock Company. He was the secretary-treasurer of the co-operative for 13 years. Aside from his farming interests, he and his family are members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Napoleon Township, and he has held the office of Congregational President and other council positions.

Richard and Marie Gerken are the parents of three children: Patricia, born June 10, 1941, and is married to Rudolph Basselman (they have three sons Randall, born November 29, 1963; Dennis, born March 12, 1969; David, born July 6, 1971; and one daughter, Sandra, born August 23, 1965, and live near Ridgeville Corners); Carolyn, born October 16, 1943, is the wife of John "Jack" Pahl (they have four sons Robert, born September 29, 1965; Kenneth, born September 2, 1967; James, born March 23, 1971; and Jeffery, born December 31, 1973; and live on the Pahl farm near Ayersville in Defiance County); Morris, born October 25, 1955, is at home and is assisting his father on the farm.

Submitted by Rudolph Basselman