Gerald E. Ramker

Mason City Gerald E. Ramker, 88, of Mason City, died Friday, December 31, 2010 at his residence. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, January 5, 2011, at St. Josephs Catholic Church, 302 5th St. S.E. with Rev. Craig E. Steimel officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Tuesday (January 4, 2011) at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with a Rosary Service at 6:00 P.M. Interment will be held in Rose Hill Cemetery, Greene, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the Gerald E. Ramker memorial fund in care of the family. Gerald Eugene Ramker was born to Louis and Zula (Brown) Ramker on October 21, 1922 in a rural Greene, Iowa farmhouse. He was raised on the family Ramker Dairy farm. He attended St. Marys Academy until transferring to Greene High School to play football his senior year. He married Mary Jean Meek on November 4, 1942. Their pride and joy was their family. Their five children: Keith, Margery, Thomas, Linda, and Duane all grew up on the farm East of Rudd. They enjoyed family visits, special events, dancing to the big bands, playing cards and most of all attending their childrens activities. December 6, 1996, he married Norma Foote from Mason City. He shared his life with her until the time of his death. They enjoyed entertaining each others families, wintering in Texas, attending auctions, fishing and playing cards with everyone and anyone who was ready for a game. He was an active 4-H member growing up, and then with his children. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and St Josephs Catholic Church. He attended Boys State in 1938. He was named Floyd County Master Corn Producer in 1959 and Floyd County Master Pork Producer. Gerald is survived by his wife, Norma Ramker; his children, Keith Ramker and his wife Judy of Leesburg, FL, Margery Wasicek and her husband Dennis of Mason City, IA, Thomas Ramker and his wife Diane of Greene, IA, Linda Posenkany of Sheffield, IA, Duane Ramker and his wife Beverly of Osage, IA; grandchildren, Heather (Peter) Ekstrom, Shannon (Tom) Meister, Chris (Curt) Wasicek, Kathy (Jeff) Brandow, Matt (Andrea) Ramker, Jeana (Gary) Nichols, Joy (Darin) Schrader, Kari (Herb) Munch, Mindy (Jade) Pecha, Janet (Lynn) Rinken, Melinda (Brett) Darrow, Jared Ramker, Daniel Ramker; 23 great-grandchildren; in-law, Muriel Heller and special friend Gordon Ganske; 2 brothers-in-law, Keith Strom (Sally) and Tom Heller; step-children, Jeannine (Monty) Perry of Huntsville, TX, Darwin (Gitte) Foote of Tracy, CA, Jon (Ana) Foote of Mesa, AZ, Jennifer (Tom) Shide of Urbandale, IA, Fred (Sandra) Foote of Scotts Valley, CA; step-grandfather of 13. Gerald is preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Mary Jean Ramker; his parents; son-in-law, Gary Posenkany; grandson, David Wasicek; sister, Deon (Art) Herman; and several brothers and sisters-in-law.

Memorials:
Memorials may be directed to the Gerald E. Ramker memorial fund in care of the family.

Cemetery:
Interment will be held in Rose Hill Cemetery, Greene, Iowa.

Visitation:
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Tuesday (January 4, 2011) at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with a Rosary Service at 6:00 P.M.

Service:
Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, January 5, 2011, at St. Josephs Catholic Church, 302 5th St. S.E. with Rev. Craig E. Steimel officiating.