Josephine Gerdes

Josephine “Jo” Gerdes, age 76, of Aurora died Saturday night, November 20, 1999, at Memorial Hospital in Aurora.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Tuesday at the Higby Mortuary Chapel in Aurora. Rev. Jay Mitchell will officiate. Interment will be at Aurora Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 Monday at Higby Mortuary.

OBITUARY: JOSEPHINE GERDES

Josephine “Jo” Braun Nelson Gerdes, the daughter of Isaac and Emma (Peters) Braun, was born at a homestead near Hampton, Nebraska on September 13, 1923 and died in Aurora, Nebraska on November 20, 1999, at the age of 76 years, 2 months and 7 days.

She grew up in the Hampton area and graduated from Hampton High School.

She was united in marriage to Floyd Nelson in April of 1949 in Aurora, Nebraska. They lived north of Aurora. Floyd died January 10, 1956.

“Jo” was married to Archie Gerdes on December 7, 1957 in Seward, Nebraska. She worked as a cook at the Frontier Café and other cafes in Aurora. “Jo” was a cook at Bethesda Nursing Home for 18 years before retiring. Archie passed away in 1988.

She was a devoted mother and grandmother. She enjoyed her hobbies of sewing crafts, cooking and she loved to watch baseball games.

Her parents, both husbands, one grandson, Grant Gerdes, one granddaughter, Rhonda Gerdes and one brother, Irvin Braun preceded her in death.

She is survived by her three sons, Robert F. Nelson and his wife Vickie of Higgins, Texas, Gary L. Gerdes and his wife Lisa of Aurora, Steven J. Gerdes and his wife Audrey of Marquette; one daughter, Sharon Jo Fonda and her husband Bill of Omaha; one sister, Marilyn Ball of Arcadia, Colorado; one brother, Wilferd Braun of Aurora; 5 grandsons, 5 granddaughters and 3 great-granddaughters.