Gerdeman’s mark 65 years

By Nancy Spencer, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Saturday, June 9, 2007 (1 year, 4 months ago)
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Carl and Alfreda’s certificate of marriage issued by St. John the Baptist Church, Landeck. The newspaper clipping is about their wedding published in The Delphos Herald.DELPHOS — They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.
Carl Gerdeman, 89, would agree. He and his wife, Alfreda, celebrate 65 years of marriage today and he says one of the secrets to their longevity has been his wife’s cooking.
“It does help if your wife can cook well,” he said.
The couple’s daughter, Karla Gerdeman-Bailey of Cincinnati, sees the humor in her father’s words.
“When you get to my dad’s age, that’s all you live for is something good to eat,” she said with a laugh.
Alfreda, who recently turned 92, said there really is no secret to their marriage. They just worked at it.
Carl Gerdeman and Alfreda Kill were married on June 8, 1942, in Landeck at St. John the Baptist Church. Father Donald “Bud” Klaus performed the ceremonies under the watchful eye of Father T. Janssen. It was Father Klaus’ first wedding.
“They’ve always said their marriage lasted so long because it was doubly-blessed,” Gerdeman-Bailey said.
The young couple spent the first two years of their marriage in Augusta, Ga., as Carl was in the service.
“I rented a room for $5 a week and worked at the Ship’s Ahoy restaurant. It was a huge restaurant and I worked with other military wives. We made 14 cents an hour plus our tips,” Alfreda recalls. “Friday and Saturday were the best for tips because the soldiers would come in.”
Carl would also come into town from the base on the weekends to see his wife.
“It made it easier knowing my wife was close,” he said.
Carl, the oldest son in his family, was a quartermaster and hauled soup, nuts and laundry. He spent two years in the service until he was called home when his father passed away. It was customary at the time for the oldest son to be discharged to take care of family matters.
The couple returned to the family farm west of Delphos and planted crops and raised livestock. They would raise four children on the farm, the youngest being Karla.
“I can remember Mom worked outside almost as much as Dad did. We didn’t have fast food then. On Sunday, mom would go out to the hen house and pick a hen. She’d step on its head and cut it off and the chicken would run around and blood would spray everywhere. The water would already be boiling and she’d drop it in and then pluck it and we’d have fried chicken for dinner,” Karla recalled. “Us kids would go out into the garden and pick corn and other fresh veggies to go with the chicken.
“We don’t have time for that today. The backseat of my car is our dining room and the chicken is the chicken select from Wendy’s,” she said.
Karla’s siblings include Peggy, Denny and Jayne. There are also seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Carl and Alfreda imagine it must be more difficult raising a family now.
“I know the women have to work now as well as raise a family and take care of the house,” Alfreda said. “I think people feel they need more these days, too. There is also too much outside interference from society now.”
Carl thinks kids have too much time on their hands.
“We were always working,” he said. “Now kids are running around and the bigger bunch of kids you have together, the more trouble you have.”
Karla agrees.
“If I could raise my family on a farm, I would,” she said. “I think we have lost the individual helping the family unit, not just themselves.”
Alfreda’s favorite pastime when she was raising her family was gardening.
“I always had my garden and I loved to dig in the dirt,” she said. “That’s what I miss the most.”
She also provided eggs to Holtzapple for the production of the flu vaccine.
“They were giving almost 80 cents a dozen in the 1960s,” she recalled. “Whenever I pass Holtzapple’s, I think about that.”
Carl has sympathy for young people who want to get into the farming business.
“It’s harder nowadays to get into farming,” he said. “Land and equipment is so expensive and people don’t help each other like they used to.”
After 65 years, Carl and Alfreda don’t feel they have done anything special and wouldn’t change a thing.
“I have had an ordinary life. I farmed, had a family and raised a lot of livestock,” he said. “I wouldn’t know what I would change.”
“I don’t think I would change a thing,” Alfreda added. “I liked every minute of it.”
The Gerdemans now live at Vancrest Assisted Living.

3 Reader Responses to “Gerdeman’s mark 65 years”

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  1. #1 — Added 1 year, 4 months ago

    Congratulations! Thanks for the nostalgic story about life in the 40’s and 50’s. I enjoyed the memories. Thanks also for the insight into the values and work required for a successful life raising a family and maintaining a marriage. My mother, (Florence Geise, who was raised by her aunt, also a Gerdeman, spoke well of them. Best to you! —Roger T. Geise, (St. John classmate of Denny’s now living in Chillicothe)

    (I don’t know whether this response goes to the Herald or the Gerdeman family, but I would appreciate that Mr. and Mrs. Carl Gerdeman have this. Thank you.

    Posted on June 9, 2007 at 7:27 am by Roger Geise

  2. #2 — Added 11 months, 2 weeks ago

    Thank you for your piece on the Gerdeman’s. I first meet Carl and Alfreda through their daughter Jayne when I was seven years old. I am about to turn 51 years old and live in Colorado. The Gerdeman’s were always a very kind and hard working family and it is great to see that they are recognized in their community. I loved their farm and always looked forward to visiting the family. Thank you for covering positive news in the community.

    Posted on October 27, 2007 at 11:44 pm by Mary L. Van Meter

  3. #3 — Added 5 months, 1 week ago

    Curious. I’m married to Eric M Gerdeman originally from St. Petersburg Fl. Father Oscar from Deshler Ohio had a grocery store. Eric is 70 yo and his name was John Emerick Gerdeman until he became a priest. He had a sister named Pat. Just wondering if we’re shirt tail relatives???

    Posted on May 3, 2008 at 4:15 pm by Judy Rahe Gerdeman