Paul Jerome Gerke

1946 - 2011

Paul Jerome Gerke, 64, of Pilot Grove died Sunday, May 22, at his home.
He was born to Anton and Alice (Kemper) Gerke on Oct. 26, 1946, in Clear Creek. Both preceded him in death.
Paul graduated from eighth grade at St. John the Baptist Catholic School and was a 1964 graduate of Pilot Grove High School. He attended Missouri Southern State College on a football scholarship for three semesters. He met his future wife Linda N. Jungmann while a student in Joplin. They were married at St. Mary's Church in Lamar, Mo., on July 2, 1966. They moved to Pilot Grove in 1970 and have resided in the Clear Creek community since then. Linda survives at home.
Paul was a dairy farmer for 25 years, working on the family farm with his dad and brother. He worked at Caterpillar for five years until his retirement. He served three terms on the Pilot Grove School Board, was president of the Pilot Grove Lions Club for two years, was also Grand Knight of the Clear Creek Council of the Knights of Columbus for two years, and served as president of the Pilot Grove Athletic Association for several years.
For many years, he was the woodworking project leader for the Clear Creek 4-H Club.
Paul loved to work with his hands, especially on woodworking projects in his shop, building furniture, and did many remodeling jobs for friends and family, as well as civic organizations. He was very creative and inventive; he enjoyed the challenge of devising solutions to building and repair problems. Some of Paul's favorite pastimes were spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and many great-nieces and nephews, traveling, playing cards and games, telling jokes, and taking the grandkids for rides on the four-wheeler.
He is survived by his children Darin and Diana Gerke, Bunceton; Anne Pfeiffer, Daniel and Sally Gerke, and Amy and Kenny Lucas, all of Pilot Grove, in addition to his grandchildren Caitlyn, Blake, Lucas, Molly, Adam, and Sam Gerke, and Robyn Pfeiffer. He is also survived by his sisters Alice (William) Stuff, Little Rock, Ark., and Karen (Norman) Hill of Kalispell, Mont., and his brothers Tony (Barb) Gerke, and Bob (Janice) Gerke of Boonville, Philip (Lori) Gerke, Windsor and Howard (Mary) Gerke of Pilot Grove as well as numerous nieces and nephews and extended family. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Brittany Nicole Gerke, his brother Frank Gerke, and sister Mascel Atwell.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Missouri Lions Eye Tissue Bank or St. John's Cemetery Association, Clear Creek.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 26, at St. John's Catholic Church in Clear Creek near Pilot Grove with burial at St. John's Cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday, May 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the St. John's Catholic Church with prayer service at 7 p.m.