Geraldine Kerndt

Geraldine E. Kerndt, 91, of Waukon died Friday, March 6, 2015 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 11 at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Waukon, with Rev. Duane Smith officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.
Geraldine Evelyn Kerndt was born January 2, 1924 in French Creek Township, rural Lansing. She was the daughter of George William and Leonette Evelyn (Ashbacher) Verthein. Geraldine attended rural elementary school, graduated from Waukon High School in 1942 and took the normal training curriculum at Waukon Junior College. She taught at the rural French Creek and Lycurgus Schools.
September 11, 1946 she married Kenneth Leslie Kerndt at the French Creek Methodist Church. They started out farming together in Center Township until buying a farm in Jefferson Township and moving there in 1960. Geraldine was active in all aspects of the farming operation but paid particular attention to the cows and the milking. In addition to that she raised a big garden, maintained the lawn and home and tended to the daily needs of her family.
Geraldine was an active member of First Baptist Church in Waukon, where she was an AWANA leader and took part in Women’s Ministries. She was also a township and women’s chairperson of Allamakee County Farm Bureau. She was an avid reader, accomplished at sewing and crochet, and enjoyed fishing and camping. She and Kenneth also enjoyed traveling through the Midwest attending bluegrass music festivals.
Survivors include her husband, Kenneth, of Waukon; three children, Gregory (Pam) Kerndt of Waukon, Karen (David) Hart of Anchorage, AK and Patricia (Kirby) Walton of Rochester, MN; seven grandchildren, Christine Kerndt, Benjamin (Misty) Kerndt, Sarah (Sean) Kolva, Lindsey Kerndt, Leah Hart, Anna Walton and Isaac Walton; two great-grandchildren, Daysha and Isaiah Walton; a sister-in-law, Wilma Verthein of Waukon; and a foster brother, Allan Ashbacher of St. Paul, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother. Willard Verthein.
Casketbearers will be Jay and Jeff Schon, Paul Promnitz, Greg Palmer, Dale Roney and Larry Gelo. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.