Geraldine Denk

Geraldine Denk, age 89, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Sunday, January 8, 2006 at the Barthell Eastern Star Home in Decorah, Iowa, following a long illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah, Iowa. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call on Tuesday from 3:00-8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday morning until 10:30 a.m. at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home. There will be a scripture service at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening. Geraldine “Gerry” Denk was born on September 9, 1916 the daughter of Walter and Edith (Chambers) Smith in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Gerry attended grade school and graduated from Humbird High School. She attended Teacher’s College in Superior, WI and taught Country School in Greenwood, WI for 4 years. When she taught in Greenwood, she got stuck in the mud and Virgil Denk helped her out. They were later married on April 25, 1941 in Humbird, WI. Gerry taught piano, accordion and organ lessons in her home for sixty years and for eight years at St. Benedict’s Catholic School during the 1960’s. Gerry enjoyed playing cards, baking and cooking for her family, sewing and recording music on tapes. Gerry was a member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church and St. Margaret’s Circle. Gerry was also a former church organist in Alma Center, Wisconsin. Geraldine’s survivors include her husband, Virgil Denk, Decorah, IA; one daughter: Judy (Gary) Hovden, Ridgeway, IA; three sons: Robert (Eunice) Denk, Decorah, IA; Don Denk, Waukon, IA and Rick Denk, St. Cloud, MN. Ten grandchildren: Randy (Cindy) Schissel, Cindy (Todd) Maxa, Jim (Kayla) Denk, Michael (Nancy) Hovden, Michelle (Scott) Ihde, Nancy (Tom) Hauber, Tammy (Andy) Avery, Jill (Roy) Reyes, Sandra (Randy) Koshatka and Dan Denk. Twenty four great grandchildren: Jennifer, Samantha, John, Matthew, Tyler, Kaitlin, Mackenzie, Colin, Elizabeth, Anna, Adam, Morgan, Madison, Laiton, Lydia, Logan, Lexie, Nicole, Bryce, Nathan, Austin, Chelsey, Addison and Dawson. One great great granddaughter: Maddison. One sister: Shelby Jean (Ron) Parks, Marshfield, WI. Two sisters-in-law: Mayme (Archie) Lyons, Hot Springs, AR and Dorothy (Vic) Wagner, Greenwood, WI. Five brothers-in-law: Leonard (Mary) Denk, Loyal, WI, William “Bud” (Marcia) Denk, Greenwood, WI, Bernie (Bev) Denk, Greenwood, WI, Jack (Shirley) Denk, Milwaukee, WI and Ron (Mary Jo) Denk, Milwaukee, WI and many nieces and nephews. Gerry was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter-in-law: Gayla (Olson) Denk; one great granddaughter: Courtney. Two brothers and their wives: Vernon & Helen Smith and Bob & Leny Smith.