Leona Gacke

Leona Ellen Gacke, 82, a resident of rural Erhard, and formerly of Luverne, Minnesota, died Wednesday, August 18, 2010, at her home. She was born to Clarence and Carrie (Jutting) Dammann on February 23rd (her father’s birthday), 1928, in Little Rock, Iowa.  She attended a rural school and then the high school in Little Rock.  She graduated in 1946. Leona taught in three rural schools until 1951 when she married Cletus Gacke in Washington D.C.  During the time Cletus served in the Army they lived in Tennessee, Virginia, and Maryland, before moving to Luverne, MN in 1953.  All nine of their children were born in Luverne.  Leona was a full-time Mom until 1974 when she began working for the Good Samaritan Society as the Activity Director.  She worked with the Senior Citizens as a bus driver and was very active in the American Cancer Society.  In 1985 they moved to Erhard, MN, and she worked at the Good Samaritan Center in Pelican Rapids until 1995.  After that she worked in private homes caring for the sick and dying.  Leona enjoyed visiting, doing genealogy, antiquing, and traveling.  She organized several big family reunions and tried to keep up with friends and family events. She leaves to mourn her husband Cletus; eight children: Cleta (John) Knoebel of Lebanon, IL; Rita (James) Clark of Rochester, MN; Kerrilyn Gacke (Steve Holehouse) of Junction City, WI; Curtis (Joni) Gacke of Luverne, MN; Ronda (Jay) Bonar of N. Las Vegas, NV; Vincent (Peg) Gacke of Luverne, MN; Anthony (Wendy) Gacke of Luverne, MN; and D. Janae (Mark) Hardina of Kindred, ND; 23 grandchildren: Karen (Frank) Mercer, David (Jenna) Dempsey, Michele (Daniel) Goldsworthy, Robert (Heide) Knoebel, and Daniel (Caitlyn) Knoebel; Christopher (Kimberly) Clark and Alexander Clark; Kasey (Jen) Gacke; Ashley (Tony) Bartholomaus, Allana (Daniel) Rogge, and Samantha Gacke; Kyle and Katelyn Bonar; Andraya and Landon Gacke; Marco, Joey, Jonny and Daniella Gacke; and Taylor, Megan, Caitlyn, and Andrea Hardina; and nine great-grandchildren with the 10th on the way: Caleb Clark; Keaton Gacke; Nolan Bartholomaus; Owen, Brayden, Eian and Lana Knoebel; and Kayla and Kristen Goldsworthy. Preceding her in death were her parents, daughter Joan in 1971, granddaughter Kalaise Gacke in 1980, son-in-law Larry Dempsey in 1991, and two brothers, Merle and Darell Dammann in 2002. Visitation will be at Maplewood Lutheran Church, rural Erhard, MN, on Sunday, August 22, 2010, from noon to 2 p.m. with a prayer service at 2 p.m. with Chaplain Vicki Marthaler officiating. A second visitation will be at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne, MN on Monday, August 23, 2010 from 4-7 p.m. with a funeral service at 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 24, 2010, at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church with Father Tom Jennings officiating.  Interment will be at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne. Memorials are preferred to the D.A.V., American Cancer Society, Salvation Army or an organization of the donor’s choice.