Poettker-Gerling, Pauline

Pauline E. Poettker Gerling, 84, of New Baden, died Friday, December 27, 2013 at Countryside Manor in Aviston. She was born July 1, 1929 in Germantown, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Diesen) Eversgerd. She married Ralph Poettker on March 27, 1951 in Germantown and he preceded her in death on June 15, 1957. She then married Victor H. “Vic” Gerling on June 21, 1958 at St. Mary Church in Belleville and he preceded her in death on January 28, 2006. She is survived by two sons, Richard (Elfrieda) Poettker of New Baden, and Donald Poettker of Chippewa Falls, WI; daughter-in-law, Gloria Poettker Santel and her husband, Dathon Santel of Summerfield; grandchildren, Steven Poettker, Jared (Sarah) Poettker, Nicole Price, Steffaine (Kelsey) Lee, Marsha (Jason) Shirley, Adam (Stephanie) Poettker, Travis Koentz, Jason Koentz, and Dathan Santel, II; great-grandchildren, Mason and Lynn Shirley, Gillian Price, Preston Michaels, and Emma and Owen Lee; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Rosie Eversgerd of Germantown, Lucille Krebs of Carlyle, Lillian & Charles Strube of Marissa, Linus & Barbara Poettker of Belleville, Martha Kleffner of Waterloo, Jane Hensley of Breese, Rita Poettker of Aviston, Mary Ann Poettker of Robinson, and Dennis Gerling of Germantown. In addition to her parents and husbands she was preceded in death by a son, Patrick Poettker; five brothers, Vic, Bernard, Martin, Virgil, and Arnold Eversgerd; two sisters, Margaret James and Eleanor Loader; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Mary Eversgerd, Orlin Loader, Loretta Eversgerd, Lorena & Erwin Rolves, Adelphia & Romanus Reilman, Marcellus Poettker, Ann & Bill Stanley, Elmer Krebs, Joseph Kleffner, James Poettker, Robert Poettker, Leroy Kampwerth, David Hensley, Clara Mae & Ted Thole, and Alvin & Bernice Gerling. Mrs. Gerling was a homemaker and formerly worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville, Wesclin Schools and in the Strano Realty office. She was a member of St. George Parish and Altar Sodality, and a former member of the New Baden Lions Club and the New Baden Senior Citizens. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at St. George Catholic Church in New Baden with Rev. Gene Neff officiating. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in New Baden. Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Monday, December 30, 2013 and from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at Hempen Funeral Home in New Baden. Memorials may be made to the St. George Cemetery Fund and will be received at the funeral home.