Obituary of Lora Arlene Gerlach

Parkston – Lora Arlene Gerlach, 98, went to her heavenly home Monday, January 23 at Avera Bormann Manor.  Funeral service will be Friday, January 27 at 11:00 am at Salem Lutheran Church in Parkston.  Visitation will be Thursday, January 26 from 5 to 7 pm at Salem Lutheran Church in Parkston.  Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Parkston.

Lora was born March 2, 1924 to Herman and Elizabeth (Scheetz) Stampe on the family farm near Stickney, SD.  She was united in marriage to Martin Gerlach on February 7, 1946 at St. John Lutheran Church near Dimock, SD.  They farmed together in Douglas County until retiring and moving into Parkston, SD in 1979.  Lora was a past member of St. John Lutheran Church and a current member of Salem Lutheran Church and held various offices in both.  She was a volunteer driver and loved to take care of flowers and garden.  She taught and shared her recipes of dill pickles and potatoe dumplings to her grandchildren.  She loved to make quilts for family and friends and play cards or marbles, most of which she won, around the kitchen table with family and friends.

Grateful for having shared her life are her 4 children:  daughter, Beth Kruse and her 3 children: Traci (Amod) Damle and their children, Anisha and Riya; Terri (Jeremy) Braun and their 2 children, Blake and Colt; and Tim (Megan) Kruse and their daughter, Finley; son, Tom (Peggy) Gerlach and their 2 children:  Aaron (Mandy) Gerlach and their 3 children, Reed, Regan and Rylan and Joshua (Cassie) Gerlach and their 2 daughters, Claire Gerlach and Alexa (Joe) Goodroad and their daughter, Haddie and step-son, Bryson; son Curtis Gerlach and his step-son, Adam Lasiter; and Todd (Carol) Gerlach and their 2 children, Christi (Chris) Mead and Travis (Katie) Gerlach.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Martin; a son, Bruce; a granddaughter, Chantel Angel; a grandson, Jake; a son-in-law, Leland Kruse; a brother, Ivan; and 3 sisters, Mabel Roth, Helen Wieczorek and Donna DeCook.