Richard N. `Dick` Gerths

Wabasha ? A memorial service for Richard N. ?Dick? Gerths, Sr. will be 11:30 am Saturday at Mahn Family Funeral Home ? Rochester Chapel with Rev. Linda Helberg of Bethel Lutheran Church officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the Wm. T. McCoy Post # 92 of the American Legion. Mr. Gerths, 81, of Wabasha, formerly of Rochester, died Sunday, (Jan. 29, 2006) due to complications of a severe stroke in Yuma, AZ. Born July 7, 1924 in Rochester, he graduated from Rochester High School in 1942. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, stationed in the Pacific Rim and was honorably discharged in 1946. On July 23, 1946 he married Norma Ferguson in Plainview. He attended Dunwoody Institute and entered the trades as a Steamfitter, working in the Rochester area for over 35 years. He was a member of the Local Trade Union for over 45 years. After his retirement the couple moved to the family cabin near Wabasha and spent winters in Yuma, AZ. He was a Firearm Safety Instructor and a board member of the Rochester Figure Skating Club. He was a long time member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed traveling, hunting, swimming, and tennis. Survivors include his wife; daughters, Cathy (Kevin) Solem of Cochran, WI; Debby (Marv) Babcock of Alton, IA; and Lauire (Ric) Marzolf of New Hampton, IA; son Richard (Joan) of Chatfield, MN; eight grandchildren; and his sister Joyce (George) Cornwell of Rochester. Friends may call one hour before the service on Saturday. Memorials are suggested to the Mayo Foundation for Alzheimer?s or Cancer Research or the Ronald McDonald House.