Elsie Gerecke

Elsie Marie Gerecke, 85, formerly of Gordonville, passed away Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Nov. 19, 1934, in Jackson to Elmer and Agnes Loos Borgfield. She was a graduate of the former Patton (Missouri) High School.

Elsie married Leeman Earl Gerecke on June 1, 1952, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. They had been married 47 years when Leeman passed away July 26, 1999.

Elsie worked alongside Leeman at their farm south of Gordonville. She drove tractors, helped with the cattle, gardened, canned and tackled anything else that needed attention. She was also an accomplished seamstress and had a special flair for quilting. Both talents made her the perfect fit for managing the fabric department at Jackson Walmart for 24 years.

She was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville, where she was a former Sunday school teacher and had served as president of the ladies aid. She was a former 4-H leader, member of the Gordonville Homemakers Club and volunteered at the SEMO District Fair concession office for many years.

Loving survivors include five children, Bernice (Paul) Koerber of Gordonville, David (Judy) Gerecke of Salem, Oregon, Gary (Carolyn) Gerecke of Gordonville, Bruce (Tina) Gerecke of Carbondale, Illinois, and Marilyn (Tom) Schott of Fruitland; 16 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Harry L. (Patty) Borgfield of Festus, Missouri, and Cletus (Ethel) Borgfield of Jackson; and a sister-in-law, Shirley (Benny) Campbell of Knoxville, Tennessee.

She was preceded in death by her husband; a grandson, Ethan Schott; and a granddaughter, Letisha Gerecke.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson and from 10 a.m. to service time Thursday at Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Wayne Schwiesow officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.