Emma Juliana Gehrke, age 98, of Berlin (formerly Omro), passed away on November 23, 2010, surrounded by her family, at Brown-Wilcox Retirement Home in Berlin, where she has resided for the past 4 years. She was born on October 24, 1912, the daughter of Albert and Dagney (Larsen) Kolpin in the town of Spring Lake. She married Wilbur Gehrke, on June 6, 1936. Wilbur and Emma were blessed to celebrate 70 years of marriage in 2006. He preceded her in death on October 9, 2006. Emma along with her husband, Wilbur, owned and operated the family dairy farm near Eureka, until their retirement in 1977. Emma was also a member of the Rushford Homemakers. She loved to cook and work in her garden.
Emma is survived by two sons, Rev. Wilbur (Karen) Gehrke, of Reedsport, OR and Ronald (Nancy) Gehrke of Omro; She is further survived by eight grandchildren, Mark of Denver, CO; Andrea of Beaverton, OR; Amy & Debbie of Portland, OR; Chris (Lynn) of Chillicothe, IL; Ryan (Andrea) of Waukesha; Charles of Omro; Rick (Kimberly) of Omro. She is also survived by five Great-Grandchildren, Josh of Denver, CO, Evan of Chillicothe, IL, William, Emily and Maya of Waukesha; sister in law, Adalyn Kolpin of Phoenix, AZ and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Wilbur, one infant son, Charles; and her three brothers, Eldo (Florence), Lt. Col. Shirley "Boots" (Lenora) and Albert.
Funeral Services for Emma will be held on Friday, November 26, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at Grace Lutheran Church, 720 Jackson Ave., Omro, with the Rev. Richard Bartholomew officiating. Family and friends may gather at the church from 9:00 A.M. to the time of the service at 11:00 A.M. Emma will be laid to rest next to her husband and son in the Eureka Cemetery. Memorials appreciated to Grace Lutheran Church, Omro.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Brown-Wilcox & St. Agnes Hospice Hope for their wonderful care that was given to Emma.