Gerking Family Newsletter

September 11, 2001

Whether or not we were directly affected by the loss of a family member or friend, a part of all of us has been taken away and can never be recovered. We are all changed and we all grieve in our own manner. Some of us are angry, some of us are scared, some of us are numb, some of us are confident all will be well, and some of us are an unsettling combination of all those things.

As of this writing we've received no word of any losses to members of the Gerking family, and our hope is that there has been none. However, if among our readers someone now is missing from your life, please accept our sincerest condolences.

In This Issue: 

September 11, 2001

 

Reunion Highlights

• 2000Reunion Minutes
• 2001 Reunion Minutes
• Book Reprint Info.
• Family Memberships
• 2-Year Financial Report
• Documenting the Family
• Gerkings & the Internet

 

Upcoming Reunions

Reunion 2001 Pictures!

Births, Marriages, Deaths, Adoption

Tribute to Florence & Larry

Missing Gerkings — both snail mail and e-mail

Newsletter and Reunion Group Angels

Are You a 12-7 Descendant? If so, check this out

Officers and their 
E-Mail Addresses

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You Are Now a Reporter!

We’ve had to drop the form this time due to space constraints. But remember — whenever there’s news of family events that should be in the Newsletter, please drop a few lines to me at 2749 N.E. Iler Street, Newport, OR 97365, or send email to bjohnsto@oregonvos.net.

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REMEMBER . . . Don’t Trust Anyone Under 40!

It’s said that one must be at least 40 to develop a real interest in family history, so if you suspect your young adult isn’t keeping the Newsletter updated, do it yourself.

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Documenting Your Family

Historian Janelle has taken on the special (and huge) project of documenting information in our Gerking genealogy. In many cases the information given to Florence for the book was from someone’s memory (maybe a grandparent like me!) or thoughts and wasn’t quite accurate.
Janelle is requesting we help her out by sending copies (do not send originals unless you have extras to spare) of your family’s vital records such as birth, marriage, and death certificates. These can be as old or as new as you’d like, but they should be tied to Gerking families and their spouses. Janelle will file them as documentation for the family genealogy.

Contact Janelle at her email address  for information on sending the certificates to her.

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Gerking Family Reunion Officers

President
Susan Dreske McBurnett 
(503) 649-5680
sdreskmcb@aol.com
 

Historian
Janelle Jackson
(503) 288-1076
eneroljj@msn.com

Secretary-Treasurer Newsletter Editor
Beth Johnston
(541) 265-7875 bjohnsto@oregonvos.net

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We're Back!

Part of this issue of the Newsletter was distributed first at the reunion August 12 in Portland, and now has been added to based on plans and decisions made at the reunion. 

As decided at the 1999 reunion, our Newsletter mailing list has been trimmed considerably in order to cut costs. Those who did not respond to show interest in continuing to receive the Newletter will no longer receive it. Those with internet access will be able to view the Newsletter on the web (much more fun — it's in color!). 
 

The book, originally printed in 1990, is 507 pages, which includes a 77-page index and some pages of photos. The reprinted book’s pages will be 3-hole punched (not bound) to allow readers to customize their own notebooks.

After the book was completed Florence declared this to be her last such book asked that each family member continue updating his/her own family information. Since then the Reunion group has used the Newsletter to print updates as they were submitted by family members. The Newsletters are available on the Internet; point your browser to http://www.oregonvos.net/~bjohnsto/gerking.htm and  follow the Newsletter links at the top of the page. Be sure to check out other Gerking information while you’re there, too!

Cost of this reprint is $35.00, which includes shipping (USA only — we will need to charge actual postage for other countries).

To reserve a book, send a deposit equal to ½ the cost of each book you want to reserve (e.g., the deposit for one book would be $17.50, for two books $35.00, etc.). We will begin printing when we have enough reservations, and as soon as the books are printed, we will notify those who’ve reserved a copy that the remaining amount is due. Upon receipt of the full payment we’ll mail the book to you.

Please send your deposit to Gerking Family, c/o Beth Johnston, 2749 NE Iler Street, Newport, OR 97365. Checks should be made payable to Gerking Family.

Some of you have had long-standing orders for a copy (or more) of the book when it's reprinted. If you're one of those people, now’s the time to send your deposit to reserve your copy!

Passing the Torch: A New Historian

We are most grateful for all the work Florence, with the unflagging help of her husband Larry, has done for the family, and for the wealth of information she has given us. Thank you, Florence and Larry!

If you want to express your thanks directly, you can write to Florence and Larry at 873 SW Sunset Way, Troutdale, OR  97060-4411 or call them at (503) 661-7068.

Further Note: At the August 12, 2001 reunion the family presented Florence and Larry with a large picture of Florence’s grandmother. Interim Historian Janelle Jackson donated the frame, along with hand-tinting the sepia-toned picture.

Gerkings & the Internet

We now have a presence on RootsWeb.com, which is the oldest and probably the most well-known all-in-one-place source of genealogical information. Its resources include surname mailing lists and boards. 

The mailing lists are basically for serious researchers who want to have ongoing “conversations.” The boards are a place to post information in categories: queries, Bible records, biographies, births, cemetery records, census records, death records, immigration records, lookups, marriage records, military records, obituaries, pension records, and wills.

A Gerkin board has existed for a while. There are also now a Gerking board and Gerking and Gerkin mailing lists (which are distinct and separate from the private internal mailing list mentioned above). All are “administered” by Beth (that’s RootsWeb’s way of saying she gets to clean up the messes). Unfortunately RootsWeb won’t allow joining the two surnames into one board and one list.

Using the Mailing Lists
To use the RootsWeb mailing lists you must be subscribed, and you're certainly welcome to subscribe to both lists. To do that, send a new message to either GERKING-L-Request@rootsweb.com and/or GERKIN-L-Request@rootsweb.com with the word “subscribe” (no quotes) in both the subject and the body — don’t put anything else in the message.

To be part of our internal announcement list, just send email to Beth and ask to be added to the list. If you've been receiving Family announcements (such as the book reprint announcement sent September 1) via email, you're already on the list.

Using the Boards
To post to the boards go to http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=main&r=rw and type either Gerking or Gerkin in the box that says “Find a Message Board.” Be sure to bookmark the board once you get there. 

Next issue: Getting the Gerking genealogy on the Web.

At the 2001 reunion the family discussed ways we could encourage and promote attendance at our reunions and decided we should emphasize the "picnic" aspect — as in, "Come and join your family for a fun picnic!" As noted in the minutes, we all agreed that the setting for this year's reunion was the best yet at Blue Lake Park, and President Susan will reserve the same area for next year's meeting. There's easy access and parking (if you come early), a great softball diamond, a horshoe pit (bring your own horshoes), a grill if you want to barbecue, and best of all, the restrooms are very nearby. 

We already have word that Greg Gerkin of Illinois and some of his family will be joining us next year, so mark August 11, 2002 on your calendar now and plan to join us for the family fun! 

The Athena Christian Church, which was founded by Jonathan Rice Gerking in 1873 as the Wild Horse Congregation, will be celebrating its 130th anniversary, as well as the 100th anniversary of its building, in 2003. We have been invited to hold our reunion in the area so that we can join in the celebration. Here is the message that was sent to us by Kayla Durfee: 

"I am researching the history of the Athena Christian Church, which was founded by Jonathan Rice Gerking in 1873 as the Wild Horse Congregation before the city of Centerville/ Athena was founded. 

"Our church is interested in buying a copy of the most recent update of the Gerking Family in America for our library. I recently met Paula Beck, who told me that a new edition is soon to be printed. 

"A request: do any of the Gerking descendants have a copy of the list of charter members of the Wild Horse Congregation, founded in 1873 by J.R. Gerking? Our present records specify only a few of the names of those who signed the charter. We hope to locate this list for the church history book we wish to have available for 2003, when we celebrate our building's 100th year and the congregation's 130th year. 

"Also, Paula mentioned the Gerking Family Reunion, which happens each August. Would the organizers of the Reunion consider holding the Reunion in Athena or Walla Walla in 2003? In view of our shared "founding father" (Jonathan Rice Gerking), it seems appropriate for us to invite you all to the celebration. We have not yet set a date, so it could be held at your usual Reunion time, if the family agrees. I'd love to hear from any of J.R.'s descendants. Kayla Durfee"

President Susan, Historian Janelle, and your editor were thrilled by this invitation to help honor a Gerking ancestor. We're working on details with Kayla and will have more information for you in the future. The projected date for this reunion is August 10, 2003 If you have thoughts or ideas you'd like to share, please feel free to contact one of us. 

Thanks go to Paula Beck for getting us all in touch! 

Oh, yes — we'd love to hear from a family member in the area (loosely defined as Pendleton to Walla Walla) who'd be willing to serve as the family's "host" for this reunion. 
 
 

Deciphering the Numbers

Thus, Mary Gerking Kirk is 1, her first child is 1-1, her second child is 1-2, etc. The first number after the name of a person indicates the family line:

In Loving Memory

Margaret Nana (Jackson) Glover (12-5-5-5) died 23 Jun 2001 in Portland, OR. She was born 5 Jul 1923. (Information from niece Janelle Jackson).

Edith Hornaday (Editor’s Note: I’m unable to find Edith’s line number in the book) died in 1996 or 1997. (Information from Shelley Strom Esterholt).

Doris Dreske Irvine (12-5-1-1), passed away 23 Dec 2000 in Corvallis, OR.  She was 95. (Information from Susan McBurnett).

Marie Therese (Thomas)Jackson, wife of Bryant Williard Jackson (12-5-5-2-3), died 9 Aug 2001 in Aumsville, OR.  Therese was born 16 Dec 1944 in Los Angeles, CA. (Information from sister-in-law Janelle Jackson).

Edith J. Mannschreck (6-5-2-2-) died October 9, 1999 in Syracuse NE. She was born July 23, 1908 in Cook, Nebraska. Services were held October 12, 1999 at the Fusselman-Wymore-Marshall Funeral Home Chapel in Syracuse, NE. Edith was a frequent contributor of family information. (Information from Evelyn Gerking of Cook, NE).

Charlotte Elizabeth (Perkins) Perry, wife of Ralph William “Bill” Perry (12-7-8-1), died October 7, 2000 at the Hood River (OR) Care Center. Services were held at the Anderson Funeral Home and interment was at Idlewild Cemetery, both in Hood River. Bill was co-founder with his aunt, Ethel Gerking Leabo, of the Gerking Reunions. (Information from daughter Beth Perry Johnston).

ArBelle Sikes, wife of Ralph Sikes (6-4-2-9), died  April 7, 2001 in Friday Harbor, WA. No other details are known at this time. A picture of ArBelle’s doll-making skills were featured in the quiz in last year’s reunion announcement. (Information from daughter Sandy Franklin and from Gina Gerking Spiller).

Dortha Woodard Whiteman passed away on 29 May 2000 in Visalia, CA.  She was the wife of Robert Eugene Whiteman (12-5-1-1-1). (Information from cousin Susan Dreske McBurnett).
 

Marriages

Roberta Stonecipher Broom (Mrs. Larry) (6-1-1-2-3-1) was married to in October, 1998 to Caroll Adams. They live in Walla Walla, WA. (Information from Roberta Adams).
 

Births

To Jacquelyn Fawn Dreske (12-5-1-4-2-3-1): Mathew Hayden Dreske, 10 Oct 1999, Portland, OR. (Information from Susan Dreske McBurnett).

To Mike (10-1-1-7-5-1-1) and Heather Hoyer: Colin William, born 1965 in Torrance, CA.
 

Adoptions

Mariah Farrell Johnston (12-7-8-1-1-2-2), nee Mariah Meghan Alexandria Farrell, born February 16, 1996 in Greenfield, MA. (Information from proud new mother Karen Gail Johnston).
 

Corrections to “The Book”

This addition will change the other children’s numbering as follows: Susan Lynn Dreske becomes (12-5-1-5-2); Marcia Kay Dreske becomes (12-5-1-5-3). 

Also add Lisa Nan Dreske, born 25 Apr 1954, Portland, OR, who becomes (12-5-1-5-4).  Lisa married Kenneth Hose 16 Feb 1991 in Los Gatos, CA. (Information from Susan Dreske McBurnett).

Thirty-eight members of the Gerking Family signed the guest book at the 41st Annual Gerking Family Reunion held at Blue Lake Park just east of Portland, Oregon. Our hosts were Ed and Cindy Dreske and Susan Dreske McBurnett, all of the Portland area.
 The following signed the guest register:

 While family members gathered, an icebreaker nametag game was played. For this game President Susan had created nametags with the names of famous people of them, and these were attached to the back of guests’ clothing. Each person then had to ask questions of others in the group to determine who he or she was supposed to be.
 Following lunch and a little time to get further acquainted, President Susan welcomed everyone to the reunion and had each person introduce him/herself to the group.

Business Meeting
 Because of wind and much noise it was difficult to hold a business meeting this year, so there are no decision or discussions to report in the minutes.

Election of Officers
 Historian Florence Bowe told the group that health concerns are forcing her to rethink continuing in office for another year. Nevertheless, the current slate of officers was reelected for another year. [Note: Florence officially retired in the spring of 2001, and Janelle Jackson of Portland was appointed Interim Historian until the reunion].

Respectfully submitted,
Beth Perry Johnston, Secretary

Twenty-eight members of the Gerking Family signed the guest book at the 42nd Annual Gerking Family Reunion held at Blue Lake Park just east of Portland, Oregon. Our hosts were Ed and Cindy Dreske of Portland, Oregon.
The following signed the guest register:

While family members gathered, they played the  icebreaker nametag game that proved so popular at last year’s reunion. Many of the family played pickup softball on the nearby diamond. Copies of the latest Newsletter were distributed to those attending.
Following lunch and a little time to get further acquainted the business meeting was held.

Business Meeting
President Susan welcomed everyone to the reunion. 

2000 Reunion Minutes
Secretary Beth read the minutes from the 2000 reunion. It was moved, passed, and seconded the minutes be approved as read.

Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Beth reported a balance of $579.55 in the Gerking family savings account and noted that mailing the newsletter to those unable to attend the reunion will drain the account further. Income for the year was $320, and expenses totaled $322. It was moved, passed, and seconded the treasurer’s report be approved as read.
President Susan noted that there  had been no newsletter last year, and if there had been the cost would have been around $250-300 for copying and mailing. Discussion about keeping the reunion group on a sound financial footing followed. Part of this will be accomplished by following through on the decision made in 1999 to drop those who have not in some way expressed an interest in continuing the receive the Newsletter, as well as emailing the Newsletter to those with email.  Although unable to attend the reunion, Janelle Jackson had suggested that in order to remain a member of the Gerking Family Reunion each family unit pay a $10.00 annual fee, with an invoice to be sent to each family unit at the beginning of the year. Membership would entitle the family to receive the Newsletter and other mailings/announcements. It was decided that rather than mailing an invoice an announcement in the Newsletter and by email would be more suitable as it would cut down on the mailing expense.
It was moved by Mike Dreske and seconded by Paula Beck that the Gerking Family Reunion institute a $10.00 per family unit membership fee. The motion carried.

1990 The Gerking Family in America Reprint
There continues to be interest in reprinting the 1990 book, and it was decided by the group to reissue the book at a cost of approximately $35.00. If at least 25 people are still interested in purchasing the book, that price would cover the cost of copying and shipping. A deposit of $17.50 (one-half) would be required to reserve a copy, with the balance due prior to shipping. Beth will contact those who’ve previously expressed an interest and will also make the book’s availability known through email and the Internet. Several people indicated their interest on a list passed around during this reunion.
 It was moved by Betty Van Meter and seconded by Mike Dreske that the 1990 edition of The Gerking Family in America be reprinted as outlined above. The motion passed.

Election of Officers
It was moved by Mike Dreske and seconded by Ed Dreske that Janelle Jackson be named Historian, succeeding Florence Bowe, who has retired. The motion passed. Susan and Beth will continue to serve as President and Secretary-Treasurer respectively.

Tribute to Florence & Larry Bowe
The assembled group overwhelmingly voted praise and thanks to Florence and Larry Bowe, who for so many years have recorded and expanded the Gerking family’s genealogy. Janelle had found a picture of Florence’s grandmother, Angie Gerking Junkin, and prior to the reunion had arranged to have the photo enlarged. She then hand-tinted the photograph and donated a frame from her collection as a family gift to Florence. Florence and Larry were unable to attend the reunion due to poor health, but President Susan delivered the picture to them following the reunion.

Next Reunion — August 11, 2002
It was agreed that the setting for this year’s reunion was the best yet at Blue Lake Park. Susan will reserve the same area for next year’s meeting, which will again be the second Sunday in August. In the reunion announcement we will emphasize the easy access and parking (if you come early), nearby ball diamond, horshoe pit and restrooms, and grill. In discussion about how to boost attendance it was agreed to call this a “reunion picnic” and stress that the meal is potluck. Our hosts in 2002 will be Mike and Gloria Dreske.

Other Business / Announcements
 • President Susan told the group that one of Janelle’s projects is going to be documenting information contained in the Gerking genealogy. Janelle requests that family members send her copies of vital records such as birth, death and marriage certificates for this project. The documents can be for any family members, living or deceased.
 • President Susan also told the group that Beth has obtained the list and board administrator rights for both the Gerking and Gerkin surname boards at lists at RootsWeb.com and has also requested that Gerking and Gerkin mailing lists be created there. No word has been received on the mailing lists. [Note: Approvals for the mailing lists were waiting on the computer when I returned home from the reunion.—Beth] A project is also underway to move the Gerking genealogy, including the information in Florence’s book, to a web site, although this is a long-term undertaking.
 • A collection to cover reunion expenses was held and amounted to $192.00. Special thanks go to Ed & Cindy Dreske and Mike & Gloria Dreske for their especially generous contributions.

Respectfully submitted,
Beth Perry Johnston, Secretary

Family Membership Fee

Susan, Janelle, and Beth all donate their time and try to keep expenses to a minimum, but as you can see from the two-year report below, it’s a losing battle, especially if we want to continue the Newsletter, which is the major single expense we have. Each issue costs $200-300 depending on the number of people on the mailing list and the number of pages in the issue. If we had issued a newsletter last year, our expenses would definitely have outstripped our income. A 2-Year Financial Report is below.

We’ve been fortunate in the donations people have given, especially to keep the Newsletter going, and those at the reunion in August took that as a sign people want the Newsletter continued. Therefore we decided to ask each family unit to contribute $10.00 a year beginning January 1, 2002, to help fund both the Newsletter and reunion expenses. Any contributions between now and the end of the year would be considered as 2002 year memberships.

We are tightening the purse strings, too, by paring down the snail mail list to include only those who’ve in some way indicated an interest in receiving the Newsletter and other Family news. We’re encouraging Family members with email to join our e-mailing lists so they can receive announcements via email (no postage!), and to read their newsletters on the web and print it out rather than having them sent via snail mail.

*Reunion Expenses includes: Site deposit 2000, 176.00; Site deposit 2001, 176.00; 40th anniversary mugs, 222.77; and Copywork and postage, 221.25. 

Lost 2000
Edward Dreske II
Mr. & Mrs. Jay Scott
Mary Catherine (Katy) Barnes
James Gerking
Mr. & Mrs. Rod Wafford
Donna Huffer
Bruce Botkin
Mrs. James Stonecipher
 

 Lost 1999
Cheryl Gerkin
Ronald B. Cox
Eleanor Scott
 

Lost 1998
Marge Blank
Sybil Jean Logan
Mr. and Mrs. John Stride
Mr. & Mrs. James Cox
Georgene Hart
Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Radford
Georgia Wells

Lost 1996
Maxine Beck
Sherry DeWeese
John L. Friesen
Mrs. P. C. Loveless
Stephen and Dana Shibley
 

Lost 1995
Mrs. Ralph E. Gerking
Mr. & Mrs. William Robison
Mr. & Mrs. Mitch Robison

Lost 1994
Harold R. and Julie B. Cox
Ed & Vicie Clark
Constance L. Collins
Robert E. Dancer
Mrs. Beula Farnsworth
Mr. & Mrs. J. I. Harvey
Lois Haase
Leona Howell
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Horn
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Montague
Don Pearsall
Chuck Schouviller
Mrs. Sandra White
Mr. Thomas A. Winer

Our email list continues to grow as we learn of new family. Messages to the following family members have bounced. We’d like to reconnect with them, so if you know any of them, have them send email to bjohnsto@oregonvos.net.

Ceridwen Attwood
Debra Minnick Bowen
Bev Giroir
Cheryl Herndon
Marguerite White
Cheryl Gerkin
Jeff Girkin
Gunter Gerking
Richard Gerking (Iowa)
Charles Phillip Gurkin
Jim Nichols
Barbara J. Peele
Jane Sarles
LaDonna Walen
Donald & Carol Wuertz

In 1873 Sam married Mary Alice Smith, daughter of James and Rebecca Mathew Smith. They had three children, and Mary Alice died shortly after the birth of their third child.

In 1886 Sam married Mary Alice’s sister Martha Ann Smith, and together they had 12 children.

Fast forward to the present — after years of thinking James had moved west from Iowa with only his wife and children, we’ve discovered that two of his brothers and one sister also moved (probably independently) to the eastern Washington area near where James spent his last years.

With this discovery an idea has sprung up to hold a Smith Family Picnic, perhaps in August, 2003. One thought is to hold it near the date of the Gerking Reunion in Athena as those of us who descend from this line would already be in the area.  If you’re interested in a possible get-together, please email bjohnsto@oregonvos.net.

Here’s a little vignette to pique your interest! In 1987 Viola Robison Bradnack wrote, “I remember tho’ one day she [Ethel Gerking Leabo] did tell me this story of . . . Grandpa Smith. . . . I will tell it as Ethel told me. Back in the times of Grandpa Smith’s young life, it was the thing for men to be very much the boss of his household, especially the women (daughters) thereof. And Grandpa Smith was one of the staunchest of those believers.  Why Grandpa Smith was so much against Grandpa Sam [Samuel Isaiah Gerking] I don't know unless it was his daughter married Sam in spite of him. She had two daughters, my mother and my Aunt Effie [and a third child who died as an infant]. . . . Quite a bit later Grandpa Sam riled the ire of Grandpa Smith by marrying another daughter, Martha. . . . Ethel said with all those years and troubles behind him he became quite mellow and when he at last visited her, his grandaughter, he was really sweet and kind. Such is the saga of dear Grandpa Smith, to whom life’s lessons were harsh.”