Paul Gerleman

Paul J Gerleman, age 84, of Decorah, IA, died on Wednesday, November 16, 2016, the Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 19, 2016, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, in Calmar, IA, with Rev. Robert Gross presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3:00-8:00 p.m., on Friday, November 18, 2016, at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home French Chapel, 202 South Washington Street, Calmar, IA., and also after 10:00 a.m., at the Church on Saturday morning. There will be a rosary at 4:00 p.m., on Friday. Paul Joseph Gerleman was born on October 3, 1932, on the family farm near Calmar, IA, to Edmund and Cecilia (Kuennen) Gerleman. He attended St. Aloysius Catholic Schools and South Winneshiek High School in Calmar, IA. Paul was united in marriage to Rita Kriener on August 25, 1953, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas, IA, and to this marriage seven children were born. Together they farmed until his retirement in 1997. Paul was a member of The Knights of Columbus and served 15 years on the South Winneshiek School Board. He enjoyed playing cards, family dinners and most of all his family. Paul loved football, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes and The Green Bay Packers. Paul is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Rita. Seven children: Floyd, Des Moines; Duane (Viola) Gerleman, Ridgeway; Kevin (Sharon) Gerleman, Ridgeway; Karen (Duane) Martin, Fayette; Loren (Stephanie) Gerleman; Winterset; Susan (Dean) Vrba, Ft. Atkinson; and Bruce, Calmar. Twelve grandchildren: Brian (Jamie) Martin; Linda (Kyle) Sneed; Laura (Jim) Walbeck; Garrett (Sarah) Gerleman; Adam Gerleman; Grant Gerleman; Reece Gerleman; Brandon Gerleman; McKenzie(Jon) Parker; Nicholas Gerleman; Samantha Gerleman and Larry Vrba. Eleven Great Grandchildren: Nevaeh, Brice, Brent, Anthony, Kaydence and Waylon Martin; Khloe Sneed; Michael and Edmund Walbeck; Jack and Harvey Gerleman. Six Sisters: Marie (Ronald) Kreitzer, Cresco; Edna Franke, New Hampton; Margaret (Robert) Koenigsfeld, New Hampton; Mardell (Lawrence) Corcoran, Ettrick, WI; Betty (John) Pell, Urbandale, IA and Phyllis (Ronald) Prybelski, Austin, MN. Brothers and Sisters-in-law: Agnes Soukup, Ridgeway; Jack & Ann Herold, Fort Atkinson; Clarence Kriener, Lawler; Urban & Patricia Kriener, Waucoma; Leona Kriener, Cresco; Connie Kriener, Waucoma and many nieces and nephews. Paul was preceded in death by his parents: Edmund & Cecilia (Kuennen) Gerleman. Father and mother-in-Law, Christopher & Cecilia (Kruse) Kriener. Brothers and sisters-in-law; Robert Franke, Patrick Weigel, Luke Kriener, Vern & Irene Schmitt, Clarence Soukup, Geniece Kriener and Marvin Kriener. Nieces: Julie Kreitzer, Sara Franke, Jane Smith and Amy Herold. Nephews: Stephen Weigel, Bruce Kriener, Ivan Kriener and James Schmitt.