Mildred Gerecke

Mildred Janet "Millie" Gerecke, 90, beloved wife of 64 years to Henry H. "Hank" Gerecke and loving mother to David, Stephen and Jan, died Monday, Dec. 20, 2010, at the Lutheran Home.

She was born July 28, 1920, to Sarah Katherine and Colby Allen Curtis.

Preceded in death by her parents; brothers Albert and Robert; and a sister, Helen.

She is survived by her husband, Hank; children, David (Dot), Stephen (Karen), and Jan Moore (Bob); grandchildren, Samantha Gerecke Vojak (TJ), Stephen Moore and Jessica Gerecke; three great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Nolan and Ava Vojak.

Gerecke graduated as a registered nurse from Kansas City General Hospital School of Nursing in 1943. She was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurses Corps on Oct. 1, 1943. She served in Europe, receiving an American Campaign Medal with two overseas bars, a Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star and a World War II Victory Medal.

She met her husband in Nancy, France, in November 1945, while both were serving overseas. They were married April 6, 1946.

During her husband's stint as chief of police in Cape Girardeau, 1974 to 1981, she served as a Special Police Officer for rape investigations after first going through the reserve officer training program.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time today at St. Andrew Lutheran Church.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. today, with the Rev. Mark Martin and the Rev. Paul Short officiating.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Mildred J. Gerecke Scholarship Fund at Southeast Missouri State University.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.