Dorothy H. Gaerke, age 94, of Coldwater OH, died on Friday, March 02, 2012 at Briarwood Village, Coldwater, Ohio. She was born October 10, 1917 in Coldwater, Ohio to August and Amelia (Loshe) Sanning. On June 15, 1940 she married Herbert Gaerke in Coldwater and he died December 16, 1998. Dorothy is survived by six children, Shirley Grunden of Van Wert, Ronald & Betty Gaerke of Minster, Robert & Lois Gaerke of Coldwater, Kenneth & Carolyn Gaerke of Celina, James & Dolores Gaerke of Newport, and Joan & John Alexander of Cassella, 19 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren, 2 step great-grandchildren, sisters & brothers-in-law, Alfreida Sanning of Coldwater, Lillian Homan of Coldwater, Charles & Betty Gaerke of Ft. Recovery, Dorothy Gaerke of Ft. Recovery, Mary Ann Homan of St. Anthony, Ginny & Bob Tangeman of Maria Stein, Marcy & Dick Topp of Centerville and Janet Gaerke of Ft. Recovery. She is preceded in death by a son-in-law Ed Grunden, a great grandchild Landon Jake Rethman, five brothers Clarence Sanning, Julius Sanning, Albert Sanning & his wife Louise, Leo Sanning and Herb Sanning, three sisters Helen Kaiser & her husband Paul, Alvera Wehrkamp & her husband Art & Bertha Sanning, brothers & sisters-in-law, Lorine & Maurice Forthofer, Jerry & Irene Gaerke, Leonard Gaerke, Virgil & Marilyn Gaerke, Wilma Gaerke, Bernard Gaerke, Harold & Eileen Gaerke, Henry Gaerke, Clete Homan, Wilbur Homan and Walter Franck . She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, St. Ann's Rosary Altar Sodality of the Church and the Coldwater Eagles Auxiliary. She was a farmer's wife, gardener, worked at the former Buckeye Overall plant in Coldwater and was a lady with various talents. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 AM on Monday, March 05, 2012 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Coldwater, Ohio. Burial will follow in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater Ohio. Friends may call at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home-Coldwater on Sunday from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM and on Monday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.
