Ralph G. Gerdes

Ralph George Gerdes, 94, a resident of Bettendorf, Iowa, died Saturday, August 1, 2009 at Select Specialty Hospital, Davenport, Iowa.
A worship service to honor his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and to memorialize his passing is scheduled for 10:30 AM Saturday, August 22nd, at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Chapel, 644 River Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa. Visitation at the funeral home is from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM Friday, August 21st. Family graveside services will be held Monday at the Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois. All memorial gifts received by the family will be donated to The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, Illinois.
Ralph was born December 23, 1914 to George and Anna (Janssen) Gerdes in Burlington, Iowa. The family moved to Chicago Illinois where he attended Austin High School. He left school before graduating to help support the family; working in Chicago for Mendelssohn’s Pharmacy and the Linen Thread Company. Ralph met and married Harriet Miller in 1940 and they moved to Davenport, Iowa where he went to work for the Rock Island Arsenal. Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Philippine Islands as a Staff Sergeant; 3626th Ordinance Recoil Repair Company on the Island of Luzon during the Second World War.
He was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars for his service in the South Philippines Liberation Campaign and was honorably discharged from the Army in May of 1946.
Ralph returned home and resumed employment on Arsenal Island, remaining there until retiring in 1967 from the position of Deputy Chief of Procurement for the Weapons Command.
He was preceded in death by Harriet, his wife of 68 years who died April 18, 2008; his parents; and his two sisters and two brothers. He is survived by one son, Ken (Judith) Gerdes of Clinton, Iowa, three grand children; Jennifer (David) Hinz of Brookfield, Wisconsin; Grant (Farah) Gerdes of Half-moon Bay California; and Joseph Gerdes of Tucson, Arizona.
Ralph also leaves three great grandsons; Evan and Laird Gerdes and Nathaniel Hinz. Their “Opa” amazed them with his magic tricks and they overwhelmed him with their love. Ralph also has one great granddaughter, (Evan and Laird’s baby sister) Nixie Beatrice Gerdes, born on the Fourth of July, 2009.
Ralph George Gerdes was known in this life to be an honorable and an honest man who did justly, loved mercy and walked humbly with his God. His hope for Salvation was based upon God’s Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone and his example as husband, father and friend will stand as long as his memory endures.