The Gerken-Larson Heritage:

The 19th and 20th Centuries

A Family History

Herman Gerken (1819-1875)
Henry Gerken (1855-1914)
Ewald Gerken (1895-1956)
Joan (Gerken) Larson (1926-1994)
Thomas Larson (1962-)

Researched and written by
Tom Larson

Amelia (Kunkel) Ament (1884-1946) was a daughter of Frank and Margaret (Gerken) Kunkel. Amelia was a first cousin to my grandfather, Ewald Gerken. Both Amelia's mother Margaret and stepmother Sophia were sisters to Henry Gerken, my great-grandfather. T.L.

Edward and Amelia (Kunkel) Ament

Amelia Kunkel was born on January 5, 1884, at Dyersville, Iowa, the fourth of seven children born to Frank and Margaret (Gerken) Kunkel. Her siblings were William, Barbara, Anna, Edward, Margaret "Meta," and Paula. Their aunt Sophia Gerken, Margaret's younger sister, joined the household, as Sophia, at age thirteen, had gone to live with the Kunkels to housekeep after Herman Gerken, Margaret's and Sophia's father, died in 1875. The family moved into Dyersville circa 1887. Margaret Kunkel died in 1896, and Sophia had continued on in the household, after having helped the family out during the illness that led to her sister's death. Subsequently, in 1900, Frank Kunkel married Sophia Gerken, and Sophia, who had been acting as a second mother for many years to the children, was now their stepmother.

Amelia received her education in Xavier High School, Dyersville, and after her graduation taught in the rural schools in the vicinity.

Marriage to Edward Ament.
Amelia Kunkel married Edward Michael Ament on January 28, 1908, in St. Francis Xavier Church at Dyersville, Iowa.

Edward Ament was born on July 1 [3?], 1882, at Dyersville, Iowa, son of Joseph J. and Susanna M. (Lehman) Ament. He received his education in the St. Francis Schools of Dyersville.

Edward and Amelia lived at Dyersville and were members of St. Francis Xavier Church. Amelia was a devoted Catholic mother and a member of the Rosary Society and St. Rose Court of the Catholic Daughters of America. Edward was a member of the Dyersville Council of the Knights of Columbus and the Dyersville Commercial Club. Edward worked for 38 years as a salesman for Myers-Cox Company in northeast Iowa.

Edward and Amelia Ament had six children, Arthur Ament, Urban Ament, Grace Ament, Robert Ament, George Ament, and Margaret Ament.

LOCAL RESIDENT DIES SUDDENLY.
Edward Ament, Well Known Salesman, Passed Away Saturday.
Edward M. Ament, 63, well-known resident of Dyersville, Iowa, passed away in Mercy Hospital at Dubuque, Iowa, Saturday night, April 13, 1946, at 6:30 o'clock. His death followed an illness of only a few days. He retired just two weeks prior to his death.

Funeral services were held Tuesday morning, April 16, from the Kramer Funeral Home to St. Francis Xavier Church in Dyersville, at 9:30 o'clock. Rev. Wm. A. Kunkel of Maquoketa, Iowa, brother-in-law of the deceased, was celebrant at the solemn requiem Mass, assisted by the Rt. Rev. Msgr. M.J. Thiltgen of Ossian, Iowa, as deacon, and the Rev. Dr. M.M. Hoffman, pastor of St. Francis Xavier, as subdeacon. Rev. Father Kunkel officiated at the graveside services when burial was made in St. Francis cemetery.

Casket bearers were Sylvester Grawe, Frank Schueth, Frank Scherrman, Elmer Westmark, Dr. T.J. Gilloon, and Ed Marold. Members of the local council of the Knights of Columbus who served as honorary pallbearers were Hugo Tegeler, William Walters, Peter Henkels, and Charles Lippert.

Mr. Ament was survived by his wife; four sons, Arthur of Waconia, Minn., and Urban, Robert, and George of Dyersville; two daughters, Grace, Mrs. C.R. Ferring, Lancaster, Wis., and Margaret, Mrs. Henry Wedewer, New Vienna, Ia.; two brothers, William, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Louis, Dubuque; and two sisters, Mrs. A.T. Hummel, Dyersville, and Mrs. Sam Hyde, Jefferson, Ia. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Leo and Frank.

MRS. EDW. AMENT ANSWERS SUMMONS.
Passed Away Saturday in Mercy Hospital After Lingering Illness.
Mrs. Amelia Ament, wife of the late Edward Ament, passed away at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa, Saturday, May 11, 1946, after an illness of several years. Her husband preceded her in death just one month ago on April 13.

Funeral services were held Monday morning, May 13, from the Steger Funeral Home to St. Francis Xavier Church in Dyersville at 9 o'clock. Rev. Wm. A. Kunkel of Maquoketa, Iowa, was celebrant, Rt. Rev. Msgr. M.J. Thiltgen of Ossian, Iowa, was deacon, and the Rev. Ernest Ament of Dubuque was subdeacon. Rev. Wm. Kunkel officiated during the graveside services when burial was made in St. Francis Cemetery.

Pallbearers were nephews of the deceased: N.J. Gross, Charles, Paul, and Mark Beckman, Ed Keffeler, and Leo Bertling. Members of the Catholic Daughters of America who were present as honorary pallbearers werre Mrs. E.F. Mueller, Frank Schueth, Frank Scherrman, Charles Lippert, Fred Walker, Ed Krapfl, Dr. W.A. McVane, and George Frommelt.

Priests present in the sanctuary were Rev. Father Murphy, Toronto, Canada; Rev. Donald Weydert, Ossian, Iowa; Rev. R.A. Schares, Plymouth Rock, Ia.; Father Anthony Woerdehoff; and Father White.

Mrs. Ament was survived by four sons, Arthur of Waconia, Minn., and Urban, Robert, and George of Dyersville; two daughters, Grace, Mrs. C.R. Ferring, Lancaster, Wis., and Margaret, Mrs. Henry Wedewer, New Vienna, Ia.; one brother, Rev. Wm. Kunkel, Maquoketa; two sisters, Miss Paula Kunkel of Ossian and Mrs. Meta Beckmann of Dyersville.

Children of Edward and Amelia (Kunkel) Ament:

Arthur Francis Ament was born on June 28, 1909, son of Edward and Amelia (Kunkel) Ament. Arthur Ament married Margaret Collins. Margaret Collins was born on June 15, 1910.
Arthur and Margaret Ament had three children: Jane Ament, Anna Ament, and Susan Ament. Arthur and Margaret Ament lived at Waconia, Minnesota.
Arthur Ament, of Waconia, Minnesota, died on September 14, 1972*. Margaret Ament, 75, of Waconia, Minnesota, died on October 14, 1985**. They were buried in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Waconia Township, Carver County, Minnesota.
* = September 14, 1972, is Arthur's date of death according to John Oberreuter's online genealogy at http://www.joberreuter.com/john/f_331.html#0, and an online SSDI gives the month and year as September 1972. His date of death is given as April 4, 1972, on Debbie Boe's online transcription of grave markers of St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Waconia Township, Carver County, Minnesota at http://www.pressenter.com/~gregboe/waconia_township24.htm, accessed February 18, 2007.
** = date of death according to Debbie Boe's online transcription of grave markers of St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Waconia Township, Carver County, Minnesota at http://www.pressenter.com/~gregboe/waconia_township24.htm, accessed February 18, 2007. An online SSDI agrees, having her death occur in October 1985.
Urban Joseph Ament was born on November 29, 1911, son of Edward and Amelia (Kunkel) Ament. Urban Ament, who was called "Prex," married Anita E. Whiting on September 8, 1941, in St. Francis Xavier Church, Dyersville. Anita was born March 28, 1910, in North Fork Township, Delaware County, Iowa, daughter of Lawrence and Gertrude (Cavanaugh) Whiting. Urban and Anita Ament resided at Dyersville, Iowa, where they were members of St. Francis Xavier Parish.
      Anita was employed as a payroll clerk at H. B. Glover Factory in Dyersville. Urban sold for the W. T. Rawleigh Co. for 38 years, at which Anita also helped. She was a member of the ACCW and the Dyersville Country Club. Urban was a member of the American Legion and the Dyersville Country Club.
      Urban and Anita Ament had three children: Mary Ament, Michael Ament, and Donald Ament.
Urban J. "Prex" Ament, 67, of Dyersville, Iowa, died at 7:35 p.m., Saturday, May 12, 1979, at the Americana Health Center in Dubuque, Iowa. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 15, at the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville. Burial was in the church cemetery, where military honors were accorded by the Dyersville American Legion Post 137. Family and friends called at the Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, where the scripture wake service was held at 8 p.m., Monday, May 14. Members of the Dyersville American Legion Post 137 met as a body at 6:45 p.m. at the funeral home.
      He was survived by his wife, the former Anita Whiting; a daughter, Mrs. John (Mary) Ritter, of Minneapolis, Minn.; two sons, Michael Ament, of Cedar Rapids, Ia., and Don "Pooch" Ament, of Dyersville, Ia.; six grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Cletus (Grace) Ferring, of Albert Lea, Minn.; and a borther, Robert Ament, of Dyersville, Ia.
Anita Ament, 92, of Dyersville, Iowa, died on December 26, 2002, at Oak Crest Manor in Dyersville. Visitation was at the Kramer Funeral Home, Dyersville from 2 to 8 p.m. on December 29. Funeral services were held at the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier, Dyersville, at 10:30 a.m., December 30.
      She was survived by two sons, Michael (Geralyn) Ament of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Don "Pooch" (Margie) Ament of Dyersville; one daughter, Mary (John) Ritter of Minneapolis; eight grandchildren, Peter, Kaarn, John, Amy, Matt, Aaron, Sarah and Ellie; three great-grandchildren, Johnny, Troy and Alex; one brother, Gene Whiting and one sister Dorothy Beyer, both of Delhi. Anita was preceded in death by her husband; three sisters, Rose Werner, Frances Martin, and Marie March; two brothers, Robert and Frank Whiting; four brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law, William Werner, Stanley Martin, Leroy March, Eldon Beyer, and Marie Whiting.
Source for Anita Ament's obituary: Kramer Funeral Home, online at http://www.kramerfuneral.com/obit-display.jhtml?DB=update/obits/dbase&DO=display&ID=1041021141_2090
Grace Marion Ament was born on May 27, 1914, daughter of Edward and Amelia (Kunkel) Ament. Grace Ament married Cletus R. Ferring. Cletus Ferring was born on July 6, 1914, at Bankston, Iowa, son of Peter and Catherine (McCann) Ferring. Clete and Grace Ferring lived at Lancaster, Wisconsin, and Albert Lea, Minnesota.
Cletus and Grace Ferring had three children: Marylin Ferring, Kathleen E. Ferring, and Margie Sue Ferring.
Cletus R. "Clete" Ferring, 81, died on May 8, 1996, with a last residence of Albert Lea, Minnesota. Grace M. Ferring, 90, died on January 29, 2005, with a last residence of Macomb, Illinois.
Robert William Ament was born on January 18, 1916, son of Edward and Amelia (Kunkel) Ament. Robert Ament married Opal C. Weber on June 19, 1941, in Dyersville, Iowa. Opal Weber was born on July 28, 1920, in Jesup, Iowa, daughter of Benjamin and Helen (Steffen) Weber. Robert and Opal Ament lived at Dyersville, Iowa. Robert and Opal Ament had one child, Edward Michael "Mike" Ament.
      Robert was a meat cutter at the former Dubuque Packing Co., Goerdt Locker and Wholesale Meats prior to his retirement. Opal worked at the Dubuque Pack and finally at the Ertl Company until her retirement. She enjoyed crocheting and gardening, especially flowers and tomatoes.
Robert W. Ament, 75, of Dyersville, Iowa, died Thursday, January 16, 1992, at St. Mary's Unit-Mercy Health Center in Dyersville. Funeral services were at 1 p.m., Monday, January 20, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, and burial was in the church cemetery, where military rites were accorded by the Dyersville Legion Post 137. Family and friends called after 2 p.m., Sunday, January 19, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, where there was a parish Scripture service at 4 p.m. and an Dyersville Legion Post 137 service at 7 p.m.
      He was survived by his wife, Opal; a son, Edward "Mike" (and Jacci) Ament, of Dyersville, Ia.; two granddaughters; and a sister, Mrs. Clete (Grace) Ferring, of Albert Lea, Minn.
Opal C. Ament, 86, of Dyersville, Iowa, died Monday, May 7, 2007, at Oak Crest Manor in Dyersville, after an extended illness. Family and friends called from 3 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 9, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, where a parish scripture service was held at 4 p.m. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 10, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, with the Rev. Phil Kruse officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
      Opal was a wonderful mother and grandmother.
      She was survived by her son, Edward "Mike" (Jacci) Ament, of Dyersville, Ia.; two granddaughters, Chris (John) Kertels and Angie (Jared) Wolfe; two great-grandchildren, Alexandra and Olivia Kertels; a brother, Ed (Helen) Weber; four sisters, Rose Nebel, Jeanette Engler, Mary Knepper and Betty (Don) Arthofer. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, John and Don Weber; and a sister, Helen Jasper.

Child of Robert and Opal (Weber) Ament:
- Edward Michael Ament was born on May 7, 1951, in Waterloo, Iowa, and was an adopted son of Robert and Opal (Weber) Ament. Edward Ament, who was called "Mike," attended Beckman High School in Dyersville, Iowa, and graduated with the class of 1969. Mike Ament married Jacalyn Hall on July 2, 1971, in Dyersville. Mike was an owner/operator for Pape Transfer since 1981. Mike especially enjoyed being home on the weekends working on projects with his family and playing with his grandchildren.
  Edward M. "Mike" Ament, 56, of Dyersville, Iowa, died Saturday, August 11, 2007, at Mercy Medical Center-Dyersville, following a sudden illness. Family and friends called from 2 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, August 15, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, where there was a parish scripture service at 4 p.m. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, August 16, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville. Burial was held at a later date.
  Mr. Ament was survived by his wife, Jacci; two daughters, Chris (John) Kertels, of Dyersville, Iowa, and Angie (Jared) Wolfe, of Dubuque, Ia.; two grandchildren, Alexandra and Olivia Kertels; a sister-in-law, Pat (Loras) Vaske, of Hendersonville, Tenn.; his biological mother, Geneva "Nin" (Gene) Madsen, of Big Fork, Minn.; and his biological sisters, Gloria Madsen, Gayle (Danny) Johnson, Gwen (Ole) Olsen, and Geri (Larry) Gustavson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Opal; and his mother-in-law, Marie Strief.
George David Ament was born on August 1, 1917, at Dyersville, Iowa, son of Edward and Amelia (Kunkel) Ament. George Ament married Maxine D. Schnoebelen on April 2, 1946, at St. Francis Church in Dyersville, Iowa. Maxine Schnoebelen was born on April 24, 1923, at Dyersville, Iowa, daughter of Hubert and Merle (Thompson) Schnoebelen. Circa 1965, George and Maxine Ament moved to Sherrill, Iowa, where they were members of SS. Peter and Paul Church. Maxine was a member of the church's Altar and Rosary Society, and George was a member of the Holy Name Society. George was employed at the John Deere Dubuque Works for 29 years. George was a member of the United Auto Workers Local 94. He was a World War II veteran.
      George and Maxine Ament had seven children: Janice Ament, David Ament, Deborah Ament, Cheryl Ament, Roger Ament, Christopher Ament, and Thomas Ament.
Maxine D. Ament, 44, of Sherrill, Iowa, died at 3 p.m., Monday, January 29, 1968, at Xavier Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa. Family and friends called after 2 p.m., Wednesday, January 31, at Behr's Funeral Home in Dubuque, where members of the parish and Rosary Society said the Rosary at 7:45 p.m. Funeral services were at 9 a.m., Thursday, February 1, at SS. Peter and Paul's Church in Sherrill, with the Rev. Frederick C. Bahning, pastor, offering the Requiem High Mass. Burial was in the church cemetery.
      She was survived by her husband, George; three daughters, Mrs. William (Janice) Huber, of Dubuque, Ia., and Deborah Ament and Cheryl Ament, both at home; fours sons, David Ament, Roger Ament, Christopher Ament, and Thomas Ament, all at home; a granddaughter; a sister, Mrs. Russell (Hubertine) Peterson, of Elmhurst, Ill.; and two brothers, Gerald Schnoebelen, of Center Point, Ia., and Ronald Schnoebelen, of Chicago, Ill.
George Ament, 61, of Sherrill, Iowa, died at 8:05 p.m., Friday, March 30, 1979, at St. Joseph's Unit, Mercy Health Center, in Dubuque, Iowa. Funeral services were at 9:30 p.m., Monday, April 2, at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Sherrill, and burial was in the church cemetery. Family and friends called from 2 to 10 p.m., Sunday at Behr's Funeral Home in Dubuque, where there was a rosary said at 7:15 p.m.
      He was survived by three daughters, Mrs. William (Janice) Huber, of Durango, Ia., Mrs. Lonnie (Debbie) Smothers, of Dubuque, Ia., and Cheryl Ament, at home; three sons, David Ament, of Dubuque, Ia., and Chris Ament and Tom Ament, both at home; a sister, Mrs. Cletus (Grace) Ferring, of Albert Lea, Minn.; and two brothers, Urban Ament and Robert Ament, both of Dyersville, Ia.
Margaret Mary Ament was born on February 23, 1920, at Dyersville, Iowa, daughter of Edward and Amelia (Kunkel) Ament. Margaret Ament married Henry Wedewer. Henry Wedewer was born on February 26, 1888, son of Bernard and Elizabeth (Pasker) Wedewer. Henry, with his brother Frank, farmed at Dixon Settlement. Henry and Margaret Wedewer lived at New Vienna, Iowa. Henry and Margaret Wedewer had two children, Dennis Wedewer and Carol Wedewer.
Mrs. Henry (Margaret Mary) Wedewer, 44, of New Vienna, Iowa, died at her home Saturday, July 18, 1964, after a long illness. Funeral services were held at 9 a.m., Monday, July 20, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in New Vienna, with burial in the church cemetery. Family and friends called after 3 p.m., Sunday, July 19, at the Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa.
She was survived by her husband, Henry; one daughter, Carol Wedewer, and one son, Dennis Wedewer, both at home; one sister, Mrs. Cletus Ferring, of Albert Lea, Minn.; and four brothers, Arthur Ament, of Minneapolis, Minn., Urban Ament and Robert Ament, both of Dyersville, Ia., and George Ament, of Dubuque, Ia.
Henry Wedewer, 92, died Tuesday morning, November 18, 1980, at the Mechanicsville (Iowa) Nursing Home. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m., Thursday, November 20, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in New Vienna, with burial in the church cemetery. Family and friends called after 3 p.m., Wednesday, November 19, at the Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa, where the scripture wake service was held at 8 p.m.
Mr. Wedewer was survived by a son, Dennis Wedewer, of New Vienna, Ia.; a daughter, Mrs. William (Carol) Sheber, of Guttenberg, Ia.; seven grandchildren; and a brother, Arthur Wedewer, of Dyersville, Ia.

Sources include obituaries from the Dubuque Telegraph Herald abd Dyersville Commercial; the Rootsweb.com online Social Security death index at http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/; John Oberreuter's genealogy at http://www.joberreuter.com/; the Funke Family Tree by Jeffrey Funke at http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=funke; Henry WEDEWER / Margaret AMENT at http://www.faricy.net/family/beahan/d0004/f0000086.html; John Oberreuter's genealogy at http://www.joberreuter.com/john/; Unity in Community: St. Boniface Parish - New Vienna (eds. Bockenstedt, Laverne "Toby" and Bob Mescher, n.d., circa 1995); and other sources as noted within the text.

Click here for the Gerken family history contents page.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tdlarson/gerken/kunkel/amelia.htm
Last revised February 23, 2009.