Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
GERKEN, Dolores I.
GERKEN, Dolores I. (Dubuque, IA, Nov. 1, 1927--Dubuque, IA, Mar. 26, 2015) The daughter of Ewald and Anna (Schumacher) Gerken, Dolores graduated from ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY and worked at STAMPFER'S DEPARTMENT STORE.
In 1947 she joined the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Victory and moved to Huntington, Indiana. As a missionary, Dolores served in Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. During that time, she received a Master of Arts Degree. Later she was Director of Religious Education at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore, MD, and St. Bridget's Church in Richmond, VA.
The next twenty years, Dolores lived near Barboursville, Virginia, where she acquired her skill in the art of basketry and became a Master Gardener. She crafted and sold baskets for her business, Virginia Basketree.
In 1994, Dolores moved back to the Dubuque area. She founded the Iowa Basket Maker Guild and taught basket weaving classes at NICC in Peosta. Dolores volunteered at MERCY MEDICAL CENTER, Divine Word Seminary, Meals on Wheels, Dubuque Dispute Resolution Center, and the DUBUQUE ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDENS.
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Source:
Obituaries. Dubuque Today by the Dubuque Advertiser. Online: http://www.dubuquetoday.com/obituaries.cfm?archive=yes