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Gerald Leon Koerner
1907 - 2003
Gary (Gerald) L. Koerner, of Klemme, died on
Saturday, March 1, 2003, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Unit in Mason City. He was
95.
Memorial services were held on Thursday, March 6, at the Klemme United Methodist
Church. The Rev. Paddy Druhl officiated. The Tenold-Andrews Funeral Home of
Klemme was in charge of the arrangements.
Gerald Leon Koerner, was born on June 8, 1907 in Klemme. He was the son of
Albert and Lillie (Lau) Koerner. He grew up on the family farm on the edge of
Klemme and graduated from the Klemme High School in 1925. The family pioneered
telephone service in Klemme and Gerald worked in many capacities for the Koerner
Telephone Company.
Following graduation from high school, he headed West with friends and found
employment as an extra in silent movies, farm hand, in the oil fields, dock
worker and other employment. He returned to Klemme and spent a year as part of a
threshing crew and later as a powder monkey for a quarry near Omaha.
While working as a lineman for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Storm
Lake, he met Bernice A. Rule. They were married on May 20, 1934 in Klemme. The
couple moved to southern California in 1964, where they managed motels in Orange
County. Mr. Koerner was employed at the Millikan High School in Long Beach. He
retired in 1977.
The Koerners returned to Klemme where he provided most of the labor and
knowledge to construct their home. He worked at the Mix Mill and was often seen
mowing his lawn until the age of 94. Mr. Koerner was a talented woodworker and
carpenter. He enjoyed word puzzles and travel.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Bernice Koerner; a son, Terry L. Koerner
and his wife, Diana of Stratham, New Hampshire; a daughter, Kathleen Sandoval of
Sunnyvale, California; a grandson, Michael Sandoval of Reno, Nevada; and a
sister, Valeria Bridges.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Kermit; and sisters,
Dolores Ridder and Nova Gelner.
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Gerald Leon “Gary” Koerner: born
8 Jun 1907 Hancock County, Iowa - died 1 Mar 2003 Mason City, Cerro Gordo
County, Iowa
Grave marker at Calvary Cemetery, Klemme, Hancock County, Iowa - Block 2, Lot 22
Son of Albert Gustav Koerner, born 1881 - died 1967 and Lillie Matilda
Lau, born
1883 - died 1964
Brother of:
Dolores Leona Alberta Koerner Ridder (1905-2001)
Kermit Kenneth Koerner (1910-1995)
Valeria Varna Bridges (1912-2003)
Nova Theo Gelner (1915-2001)
source: Find-A-Grave, memorial# 100540886
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