David V. Gaerke, age 57, of Coldwater, Ohio, died Thursday, July 18, 2013 at his home. He was born March 27, 1956 in Coldwater, Ohio, to the late Leonard Gaerke and Lillian (Will) Gaerke-Homan, who survives in Coldwater. On May 19, 1979, he married Cindy L. (Bender) in St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Carthagena, and she survives in Coldwater. He is also survived by three children, Jeremiah Lee & Elizabeth (Hondorf) Gaerke of West Chester, Ryan David & Melissa May (Lai) Gaerke of Maineville, and Melissa Marie & Patrick Luthman of McCartyville, four grandchildren, Braden David Gaerke, Maggie Ann Gaerke, Sydney Marie Gaerke and Lilly Ann Luthman, brothers and sisters, Gary Gaerke of Coldwater, Dennis & Andrea (Falk) Gaerke of Waterford, Michigan, Linda & Al Lefeld of Coldwater, Nicholas & Jan (Wannemacher) Gaerke of Centerville, Terry & Phyllis (Sutter) Gaerke of Coldwater, Marlene & James Balster of New Bremen, and Leonard Jr. & Lucy (Brown) Gaerke of Coldwater, Step-siblings, Laura & Thomas Behr of Sidney, David & Joan (Stelzer) Homan of Hoagland, Indiana, Sandra & Richard Clune of Celina, Alvin & Eileen (Brackman) Homan of Minster, and Gary & Jane (Kramer) Homan of St. Henry, mother-in-law, Irene (Wenning) Bender of St. Henry, and in-laws, Joseph & Jean (Kramer) Bender of Maria Stein, Janice & Kirk Brackman of Vandalia, Marjorie & David Luthman of Versailles, Donald & Dee Dee (Buening) Bender of St. Henry, Marilyn & Lynn Mulholland of Spencerville, and Michael & Susan (Tobe) Bender of St. Henry. He is also preceded in death by a sister, Lou Ann Gaerke, a step-father, Cletus Homan, father-in-law, Ed Bender, and a sister-in-law, Connie Marie Bender. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Coldwater and the Coldwater Knights of Columbus. He was a master mechanic and worked for Cheeseman Trucking as a maintenance manager. David was a great Husband, Father and Grandpa, who loved fishing, golfing, and tinkering in the shop. He was a humble, modest, family man with strong moral convictions. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at Holy Trinity Church. Burial will follow in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater. Friends may call from 2 to 8 pm on Monday and 9 to 10 am Tuesday at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater. Memorials may be made to State of the Heart Hospice. Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.
