William F. Gerken, 91, of Farley, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.
Visitation for William will be held from 3 to 8 p.m., on Friday, January 23, 2026, at the Reiff Funeral Home in Farley, Iowa, where a prayer service will be held at 2:30 p.m., the Farley American Legion Auxiliary will meet at 6:30 p.m. and the Farley American Legion service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will also be held after 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at the funeral Home.
Services for William will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Farley, Iowa with Rev. Steven Garner presiding. Burial will be held in St. Joseph’s Cemetery at a later date.
He was born December 23, 1933, in Dubuque, Iowa, son of Ewald F. and Anna (Schumacher) Gerken. He received his education at the Holy Ghost School and attended the Loras Academy in Dubuque. On October 22, 1955, he was united in marriage to Donna Beresford at St. Patrick’s in Epworth, Iowa. He worked in construction all his life in California until his retirement.
The couple loved to travel in their younger years. He also loved to play cards, and played many of them on the computer, but Euchre with any visitor was a must.
He is an Army Veteran. He is a member of the Farley American Legion and a member of St. Joseph’s Parish in Farley, Iowa.
He is survived by his wife, Donna Gerken of Farley, IA; four children, Catherine (Michael) Joyce of Irvine, CA, Cynthia Salgado of Eugene, OR, Theresa Gerken of Sparks, NV and Gerard “Gerry” Gerken of Golden, CO; 8 grandchildren, Bret Shotwell (& friend, Naomi), Michael Joyce, Matthew (Jamie) Joyce, Shannon (Jason) MacRae, Erik (Nicole) Runfola, Russell (Alizabeth) Awrey, Josh Gerken and Danielle (Brandy Millet) Gerken; eleven great grandchildren; and one daughter-in-law, Michelle Gerken; and one sister-in-law, Marlene Gerken of Dubuque.
He is preceded in death by his parents; one son, William Gerken; one son-in-law, Louis Salgado; brothers, Donald (Ann) Gerken, Adrian (Joan) Gerken, Ewald (Elizabeth) Gerken, Daniel (Joyce) Gerken, and Loras Gerken; his sisters, Louise (Wilfred) Coakley, Teresa (Donald) McCoy, Joan (Vernon) Larson, Dolores Gerken, and Mary (John) Temple.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com
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