Lorain Gehrke

Lorain Bernard Gehrke, 89, of Western Township, died Monday, February 25, 2019, at Centra Care Health, St. Cloud.

He was born June 4, 1929, to Bernard and Rose (Weigand) Gehrke, on the family farm in Western Township. He attended country school through the 8th grade and then began farming with his father. On September 30, 1950, Lorain married Dorothy Hanson at Aastad Lutheran Church. He continued to live and work on the family farm with his wife and their three daughters.

Lorain was blessed with many talents – carpenter, electrician, plumber, buildings to bird houses, any job large or small. Mowing was his passion as attests to his beautiful lawn every summer. This also included Lawrence Presbyterian Church Cemetery, as he was the sexton there almost 40 years, and was a lifetime member of the Lawrence Presbyterian Church, serving his church as both Trustee and Elder.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his parents-in-law and a brother-in-law, Ernie Jensen.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Dorothy; daughters, Barb (Buzz) Amundson, Sandy (John) Piekarski, and Sharon (Jim) Piekarski; nine grandchildren, Kari (Dale) Hartman, Trisha (Jack) Brann, Kim Swanson (Fiancé, Kevin Vickers), Jen (Russ) Knudson, Jacky (Steve) Hensley, Brian (Nycol) Piekarski, Doug (Crystal) Piekarski, Tami (Tony) Stock, and Brent (Vanessa) Piekarski; 29 great-grandchildren and one sister, Luella Jensen.

Visitation: one hour prior to the service at the funeral home
Service: 2 p.m. Monday, March 4, 2019, at the Olson Funeral Home Chapel, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Rev. Kevin Patch and Rev. Brad Childs
Interment: Lawrence Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Wendell, Spring 2019
Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls is in charge of arrangements.
online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com