KLEMME BOOK

Dorothy Mae (Lacey) Gerdes

1935 - 2024


Dorothy Gerdes January 22, 2024 Dorothy Mae (Lacey) Gerdes, 88, of Belmond, IA, passed away on Monday, January 22, 2024, at her home in Belmond. Public visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Friday, January 26th, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond, Iowa. Public funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, January 27th, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Belmond with visitation continuing on Saturday for one hour prior to the services at church. Dorothy will be laid to rest at the Belmond Cemetery. Andrews Funeral Home of Belmond is caring for Dorothy and her family. In Lieu of flowers, memorial may be directed to Second Chance for Life, their website address is http://www.scflf.org, or the American Heart Association http://www.Heart.org, or to the donor's choice. Dorothy Lacy, the daughter of William and Marie (Madsen) Lacy, was born, October 9, 1935, in Belmond, IA. She grew up in the Klemme, Iowa, area, where she attended Klemme Schools and graduated from Klemme High School in the Class of 1953. She was an excellent girls' basketball player proudly representing the Shamrock nation. After graduation she worked as a telephone operator in Garner, Iowa, for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company for a period of time. On June 20, 1954, Dorothy married the loved of her life Henry Gerdes of Goodell, Iowa. They were united in marriage at the St. John Lutheran Church in Belmond, Iowa. Dorothy and Hank were lifelong members of St. John, where they both had been baptized, confirmed and married. They made their home in Belmond for the next 69 years. Their union was blessed with 4 children: Eugene, Susan, Randi and Debra. In the early years of their marriage Dorothy stayed home where she nurtured, loved and raised their children. In 1974, Dorothy joined husband, Hank, when she went to work as an office manager for National By Products. She would continue to work there until 1992 when she became daycare to be with her grandchildren a role that she truly relished for her remaining years of life. Dorothy enjoyed sewing clothes for her grandchildren, doing ceramics making which she passed along to her kids and grandkids and cherished many weekends with the entire family. Dorothy truly looked forward to any occasion or opportunity to be in the presence of her family, be it a family birthday party, sporting event, or the holidays such as Christmas or the Fourth of July, if it meant everyone was together, she was truly in her element. Dorothy enjoyed watching sports on TV and of course her Hawkeyes teams. She and Hank looked forward to countless camping adventures, both on their own and with family and friends. Their favorite destinations included Clear Lake State Park, Clear Lake, IA, Beeds Lake, Hampton, Iowa, and Pine Lake State Park, Eldora, Iowa. Over the years they had taken their family on a variety of travels including but not limited to Colorado, Alabama, South Dakota. They looked forward so supporting their children and grandchildren in all their endeavors. Dorothy and Hank anxiously looked forward to being present and cheering the many activities their grandchildren participated in. They truly were the proudest and biggest cheerleaders in the lives of their family. In addition to their other roles and duties in life, Dorothy and Hank dedicated 54 years as the custodians and maintenance tandem at First State Bank in Belmond. The couple's diligence and meticulous attention kept the Bank always looking it's finest. Dorothy and Hank did this task together as husband and wife just as they did things as a team for almost 70 years of marriage. Dorothy will be remembered by her family and all who crossed in her life journey for her undying dedication and boundless love for Hank, her children, grand and great grandchildren, and other family and friends. She was preceded in death her parents William and Marie, her son Eugene Gerdes in 1999, siblings: William Lacey, Jr.; Betty Pralle, Ruth Kaduce, Leola Nedved, and Elaine Ristau. He memory will be carried forward int he hearts and minds of her loving family including; daughter Susan (Roger) Ammerman, Klemme, IA, son Randi (Lynn) Gerdes, Clear Lake, TX, and daughter Debra (Robert) Halfpop, Belmond, IA; 7 Grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends. The funeral service will be live-streamed for those that may not be able to attend in person on both the Trinity Lutheran Church, Belmond and Andrews Funeral Homes Facebook pages, just like either page to view. Funeral Service: Saturday, January 27, 2024, 10:30 AM; Trinity Lutheran Church, 304 3rd Ave NE, Belmond, IA 50421.