Arline M. Gerleman

Arline M. Gerleman, age 80, of Decorah, Iowa, died Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at Wellington Place in Decorah following a short illness. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 9, 2008 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah with Rev. Steven M. Jacobsen officiating. Private family burial will be in Washington Prairie Lutheran Cemetery in rural Decorah. Friends may call after 10:00 A.M. Saturday, one hour before services, at First Lutheran Church. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is handling the arrangements. Arline May (Johnson) Gerleman was born August 6, 1928 in Springfield Township, Winneshiek County, Decorah, Iowa, the daughter of Arve John and Hilda (Holien) Johnson. She was baptized September 2, 1928 at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church by the Rev. Paul Koren and was confirmed into that congregation May 9, 1943 by the Rev. O.E. Engebretson. She remained a member there until 1967 when she transferred to First Lutheran Church in Decorah, IA. Arline taught Sunday School and was a member of choir and church organizations. Arline attended a rural school in Nordness, IA, and graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1946. In 1946, she became an employee of Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Decorah. She held several positions there, accumulating 32 years of service and retiring from the company in 1982. She became a part-time employee at the Information Switchboard Desk at Luther College and retired in 1996 after fourteen years. Arline was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend who will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Seaman First Class Harold B. Johnson on the ship Indianapolis in World War II; and the father of her girls, Robert Gerleman. She is survived by her three daughters: Nancy Gerleman of Grinnell, IA, Jane (James) Langholz of Decorah, and Lori (Mike) Kelly of Decorah; her four grandchildren: Nathan and Ben Langholz, and Drew and Shana Kelly; one sister, Margaret Usgaard of Decorah; one nephew, Harold (Lynette) Usgaard of Austin, MN; two great-nieces and one great-nephew; and two great-great-nephews. Memorials may be directed to the Food Pantry at First Lutheran Church or the Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice.