Gervase “Jerry” Erkens, age 89

Rockville
November 11, 1930 – October 18, 2020

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 23, 2020 at Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Rockville, MN for Gervase “Jerry” Erkens, age 89, who died Sunday, October 18, 2020 at Assumption Home in Cold Spring. Burial was in the Calvary Cemetery, Rockville. 

Jerry was born on November 14, 1930 in Roscoe, MN to Bernard and Eleanor (Kascht) Erkens.  He married Marie C. Dingmann on September 11, 1957 in St. Anthony Catholic Church, St. Cloud.  Jerry was the founder of Erkens Water Softener Service. He was very involved in the church choir, religious education and as a communion minister.  Jerry enjoyed good food and traveling and visiting family and friends. In his retirement one of the things he enjoyed was tutoring the first graders at Cold Spring Elementary.

Survivors include his wife, Marie; children, Don (Becky), Laurie (Steve) Opatz, Joe (Suzanne), Jim (Lynn); seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; siblings, Clarence (Teresa), Eugene (Betty), Sister Lydia, O.S.B., Richard (Dianne), Cyril (Darlene) and Victor (Sandra).
He was preceded in death by his niece, Jennifer Erkens and sister-in-law, Delphine Erkens.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Assumption Home and St. Croix Hospice for the wonderful care given to Jerry.

Arrangements are with Wenner Funeral Home, Cold Spring.