Iona Gerlach

Funeral services for Iona Gerlach will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 27, 2008 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Gillette, Wyoming with Pastor Scott Firminhac officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Pisgah Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 26, 2008 at Walker Funeral Home. Iona E. Gerlach, age 77, joined her Lord and Savior Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at Campbell County Memorial Hospital following an extended illness. Iona was born December 24, 1930, the daughter of Isaac and Jennie Christina (Meinerts) Browen in Sioux Falls, SD. She was raised in Farmer, SD. Iona married Gerald Jerry Gerlach, August 21, 1949 and they moved to Gillette in 1963. She worked many years in the retail business, and retired after 13 years with the C R Anthony Co. Iona then drove a pilot car for Dale's Hot Shot Service for another 6 years. Iona spent many years traveling across the country with Jerry in his truck. She enjoyed sewing for her girls when they were small, and was an active member in the Trinity Lutheran Church. Iona is survived by her husband of fifty nine years Jerry, daughters; Vee (Dave) Bleizeffer, Lynn (Bill) McDonald, Lee (John) Lavrenz all from Gillette Wyoming, grandchildren; Dan Bleizeffer, Dustin (Kristy) Bleizeffer, Jamie (Kevin) Nemec, Chris (Stacie) McDonald, Gail (Leslie) Edwards, Sarah (Ryan) Warne, and 14 great-grandchildren, sisters; Charlene (Jim) Kuehne of Worthington, MN, Dorothy (Bernard) Dirks of George, IA., Iona was preceded in death by her parents, six brothers; Dale K., Ivan W., Elery L., Lance R., Ralph and infant brother Clifford K Browen, three sisters; Marcella Klingenberg, Mavis Bell, and infant sister Neotha B Browen). A memorial has been established in Ionas name to benefit Campbell County Hospice Hospitality House, and memorials can be sent to Walker Funeral Home at 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, Wyoming 82716. Condolences can be sent via the internet at www.walkerfuneralgillette.com.