Helen Ida Gehrke

GEHRKE-Helen Ida Gehrke, age 90, passed away on Friday, September 10, 2010, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Ida was born in Chandler, Oklahoma, July 22, 1920 and later moved to Whittier, California with her family. Ida married Joseph C. Gehrke July 27, 1940. They made their home in Whittier, California, where they had two daughters, Doris Ann and Lois Jeanette. Ida is survived by her brother Pete Mitchell; daughters Doris McGowen and Les Cadden of Virginia, and Lois Belew of Kansas; grandchildren Michelle Brown and her husband Harry Brown of Virginia, Douglas McGowen and his wife Courtney McGowen of Massachusetts, and Loren Belew of Kansas; great grandchildren Hannah Brown, Whitaker Brown, and Lyla McGowen. She is preceded in death by her husband Joseph Gehrke, her parents Fred and Katherine Mitchell, two sisters Lillian Willison and Clara Steele, and brother Tom Mitchell. A service for Ida will be held at her graveside at Rose Hills Memorial Park, Garden of Gratitude, in Whittier, California, on Friday, the 17th of September at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heartland Hospice Foundation, in honor of Ida Gehrke, 5029 Corporate Woods Drive #200, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462.