Gerald Michael Gudenkauf, 12 Aug 1931 - 14 Aug 2018

GUDENKAUF, RECKER, MERFELD, METZ, LAWRENCE, LUCAS, RINGGENBERG, BYRD, DREESSENS, SCHULTE, PRUSS, SPERFSLAGE

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 1/3/2025 at 15:05:40

Gerald M. Gudenkauf, 87, of Manchester, formerly of Ryan, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester. Visitation: 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 16, 2018, at Bohnenkamp – Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Manchester, with a 2:00 pm Scripture Service. Additional visitation will be held Friday, from 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. at the church. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 17, 2018, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Ryan, Iowa, conducted by Rev. Gabriel Anderson. Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Ryan.

Gerald was born on August 12, 1931, in Worthington, the son of Walter and Lucinda (Recker) Gudenkauf. Gerald served honorably in the United States Army.

Gerald was united in marriage to Ann E. Merfeld on May 28, 1957. They had seven children. Together they farmed east of Ryan for many years. Gerald was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ryan. Gerald enjoyed and loved his family. He and Ann also loved polka music and would attend local events when they could.

Survivors include his wife, Ann Gudenkauf of Manchester; six children, Joann (Steve) Metz of Keswick, Larry Gudenkauf of Delhi, Janice (Greg) Lawrence of Delhi, Karen (Dean) Lucas of Manchester, Marv Gudenkauf of Manchester, and Linda (Seth) Ringgenberg of Blue Springs, MO; nine grandchildren, Kellie (Nate) Byrd, Christine Metz, Brian (Brittany) Metz, Erin (Ryan) Dreessens, Ryan Lawrence, Nichole and Kristin Lucas, Michalea and Makenna Ringgenberg; one great-granddaughter, Saylor Metz; two brothers, Raymond (Sally) Gudenkauf of Ryan, and Elmer “Jerry” (Dianne) Gudenkauf of Cheyenne, Wyoming; three sisters, Mary Ann (Edward) Schulte of Manchester, Grace Pruss of Cedar Rapids, and Alice (Lawrence) Sperfslage of Strawberry Point; and sister-in-law, Judy Gudenkauf of Manchester.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Lester (Marian) Gudenkauf, and Dennis Gudenkauf; one son, John Gudenkauf; one granddaughter, Heather Lucas; and second sister-in-law, Judy Gudenkauf of Ryan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family and will be donated to Regional Medical Center Hospice, Manchester.

Published in The Gazette on August 15, 2018.