Obituary: Vernon Gerdes

Vernon Gerdes died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016, in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Vernon was born on Jan. 19, 1929, in Coffeyville, Kansas. He was the oldest of the five children of Louis and Lela (Tucker) Gerdes.

Vernon's family moved to California where he graduated from Compton High School in 1947. He moved to Long Beach, California, and joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 1949. He served our country in the Korean War in Japan and Korea as a member of the 452nd Light Bomb Wing, 1950-52.

Vernon met Janet, the love of his life, in 1948. They were married on June 27, 1953, at St. Cyprian Catholic Church in Long Beach, California. Janet was a very loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Janet made Vernon's life so complete and worthwhile. He said many times, "I got the girl of my dreams." They shared 58 years together before her passing April 11, 2012, from cancer. They enjoyed many good times together. He missed her very much, was passionate about life and looked to the day he would be with her again in heaven. Vernon sacrificed for his family and also enjoyed volunteering for cadets of the Civil Air Patrol as a Squadron commander in Illinois and in Arizona. He was very active in, and the Second Vice President of, the H. Edwards Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA) in the Prescott area. Vern loved the outdoors and volunteered at Red Rock State Park in California after retirement before moving to Prescott.

Vernon is survived by his brothers, Arthur Gerdes and Louis (Donleita) Gerdes; sister Skippy; brothers-in-law Jim (Shirley) Harvey, Jeff Storm and George Storm; sister-in-law Ellie (Steve) Huddleston; sons Brian Gerdes of Elgin, Illinois, Erick (Megan) Gerdes of Louisville, Kentucky, Glenn (Penni) Gerdes of Ridgecrest, California, Steven (Rich) Gerdes of San Luis Obispo, California, Jeffrey (Sara) Gerdes of Commerce City, Colorado, Michael (Kim) Gerdes of Aurora, Illinois, and Mark Gerdes of Elgin, Illinois; daughters Karen (Ken) Mueller of Prescott Valley, Kathleen Austria of Norwalk, California, Sharon McGill of Elgin, Illinois, Diane Chankay of Anaheim, California, and Laura (Chris) Mortell of Henderson, Colorado; 24 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and close family friend Matt Molus.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Gary and sons-in-law Leonard Austria and Michael Chankay.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, with a rosary starting at 6, at the Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home at 303 S. Cortez St. in Prescott. A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 150 Fleury St. in Prescott. Interment will be at 1 p.m. at the Mountain View Cemetery at 1051 Willow Creek Road in Prescott.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial gifts may be made in memory to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105 or online at www.stjude.org.

Funeral services were trusted to Wakelin Family Funeral Homes. Please visit www.ruffnerwakelin.com to view and sign Vernon's guestbook and for directions.

Information provided by survivors.