© Steve Kukuk

Obit for Juanita posted by Ann Weber
Aug 4, 1919 - May 10, 2020

DIGHTON MARLER FUNERAL HOME
PERRY, NOBLE CO, OK
(permission granted)

Dighton-Marler Funeral Home of Perry has been honored to direct her funeral services.

Visitation will be Monday, May 18, 2020 from 9AM to 5PM at Dighton Marler Funeral Home of Perry.

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 2PM at Richburg Cemetery in Perry. Pallbearers will be Robert Fuxa, Dr. Craig Gerken, Conan Maltz, Zane Maltz, Gage Gerken, and Jeff Maltz. Honorary pallbearers are Doug Will, Jimmy Smith, Grady Parmley, Tom Rieman, John Rieman and Dr. Blake Baird.

She will be laid to rest beside her husband Deb.

Juanita was born August 4, 1919 on the family farm in Sumner, Oklahoma to John and Susie (Rupp) Rieman. She attended Sumner Public Schools through the 10th grade, at which time her family needed her help on the farm. On August 20, 1939 she and Delbert D.W. "Deb" Gerken were married at Christ Lutheran church in Perry. She was an avid seamstress, gardener, and cook. She made award winning loaves of bread and cinnamon rolls. Never was it uncommon for her local mail carrier to find a fresh loaf of bread in the mailbox. Tracy Phillips will surely miss the fresh bread. She served on the Sumner Volunteer Fire Department for several years. All the guys sure enjoyed her mixture of ground bologna, weiners, onions, and dill relish sandwiches she would bring to the meetings. She was of the Lutheran Faith. At a young age she was baptized at the Zion Lutheran Church east of Perry and confirmed in both English and German language. After she and D.W. were married she moved her membership to Christ Lutheran Church in Perry where she remained a member until her passing.

Those left to Celebrate her life include her children, Phyllis Fuxa-Stark and husband Eldon of Asher, Oklahoma, Shirley Garvie and husband Larry of Morrison, Oklahoma, and Gary Gerken and wife Becky of Waurika, Oklahoma; 8 grandchildren, Teresa Fuxa and Robert Fuxa both of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Shurlyn Maltz and husband Jeff of Guthrie, Oklahoma, Misty Karcher of Perry, Oklahoma, Dr. Craig Gerken and wife Mika of Ardmore, Oklahoma, Michelle Hall of Waurika, Oklahoma, Larri Veit and husband Dale of Morrison, Oklahoma, and JR Stark and wife Teresa of Noble Oklahoma ; great-grandchildren, 2nd Lt. Conan Maltz and wife Alexis, Zane Maltz, MiKaylyn Gerken, Gage Gerken, Matlyn Gerken, Katherine Hope Henderson, Kenedi Weatherly, Shelbi Veit, Kelli Veit, Trevor Stark, and Rachel Stark; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband D. W. "Deb" Gerken in October 1989; parents; grandson, Frank Fuxa; three brothers, Bill, Herman, and Henry Rieman.

The family would like to thank all of the caregivers, Misty Karcher, Shana Hogan and the Humanity Hospice of Perry.

Family requests that memorials may be made to Waurika 1st United Methodist Church, Richburg Cemetery, Alzheimers Association via Dighton Marler Funeral Home of Perry.

Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.dightonmarler.com