Edwin C. Gerdes, 86, of Minonk, died at 3:01 p.m. Monday (Dec. 12, 2005) at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick'sCatholic Church, Minonk, with Fr. Deo Gratias Kiwanuka officiating.Burial with military rites will follow in St. Patrick's CatholicCemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday with therosary to be recited at 7:30 p.m. at Calvert & Froelich MemorialHome, Minonk. Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Edwin was born Nov. 21, 1919, in Dana, the son of Frederick B. andMatilda Feider Gerdes. He married Garnet L. Pelz on Sept. 4, 1942, inMinonk. She survives.

Also surviving is a daughter, Wanda (Jerry) Lay, Minonk; two sons,Dwight (Kim) Gerdes, Morton, and Lynden (Lawson) Gerdes, Isabella,Minn.; one brother, Lawrence Gerdes, Joliet; one sister, Aline Finnell,Kenosha, Wis.; four grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; fourgreat-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.

He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Minonk.

He was a member of the Minonk American Legion Post 142, Minonk VFW Post7185 and a third-degree member of the Minonk Knights of ColumbusCouncil 985.

He was a veteran of WWII, having served with the U.S. Army Air Force.

He was a retired milk distributor for 27 years and prior to that, heworked at Minonk Bakery for 14 years. He had also worked maintenance atPetri Brothers Co. in Minonk.