Geraldine “Gerry” M. Koerperich

Gerry was born May 6, 1925 in rural Selden, Kansas to Charles Walton and Mary Margaret (Zodrow) Heisz and died August 3, 2016 at the Lakeview Village Care Center in Lenexa, Kansas with her loving family at her side. She grew to womanhood, the oldest of three sisters, first attending the one-room Crescent school, by riding her horse Betsy the two miles from home. She learned from her mother to sew, cook, garden, churn butter, bake bread and preserve food; skills necessary to survive the Great Depression, the Dirty Thirties and rationing of World War II. Her biscuits won first place in the 4-H division at the state fair. While attending Marymount College during World War II she corresponded with a local boy, Ernest Koerperich, who was in the Sixth Armored Division in Europe. She also worked one summer at the Sunflower Ordnance Works near De Soto, KS making large shell ammunition.

Gerry and Ernest F. Koerperich were married at the Sacred Heart Church in Selden, KS on August 20, 1946. They purchased a farm from her parents, raised four children and had a successful enterprise until his death in 1971. She developed a profitable Fuller Brush business after moving to Colby, KS. In 1973 she returned to college, earning a degree at Kansas State University in Family and Child Development and a Masters in Adult and Occupational Education. In 1975 she and her youngest son moved to the Wichita, KS area. Her last address in Wichita was next door to her younger sister. Those years were enriched with evening card playing, dinners out and many family events.

In 1999 Gerry moved to an apartment at Lakeview Village Retirement Center and shortly was elected President of the Resident's Council. Volunteering was one of Gerry's fortes and she continued to do so in many areas including Unity Church of Wichita and Overland Park where she was a member. One of her favorite weekly activities was attending a creative writing class with her daughter. Her love of reading and her expertise at crossword puzzles, always working them in ink, were passed along to her children.

Gerry was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sisters Doris (Lanning) Heisz and Velma Whiteside, and son-in-law Alan P. Lange. She is survived by her children Virginia M. Lange of Vero Beach, FL , Francis J. "Frank" (Beverly) Koerperich of Blanchard, ID, CeeAnn K. (Jim) Neuenschwander of Overland Park, KS, and Charles F. "Chuck" (Lisa) Koerperich of Overland Park, KS. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Kristin M. Lange Von Till, Brian A. Lange, Sarah E. Koerperich, Benaiah C. Koerperich, Dena K. Neuenschwander, Jamie A. Neuenschwander Scott, Zachary C. Koerperich and Everett F. Koerperich along with four great-grand children.

Our family thanks the staff at Lakeview Village for all the considerations given to Gerry over the years, with special appreciation for the loving attention given by the Care Center staff.

A Memorial service will be held at Lakeview Village Chapel on August 14, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. with inurnment in the Selden, KS cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers Gerry requested donations to the Lakeview Endowment Fund at 9100 Park St., Lenexa, KS 66215, or to the International Essential Tremor Foundation, P. O. Box 14005, Lenexa, KS 66285-4005.