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- Kenneth Edgar Gerber Obituary
1 June 1921 - 7 Oct 2010
Ken was born on June 1, 1921 near Drake, North Dakota second child of Edgar and Alma (Zabel) Gerber. When still a young boy, he moved with his family to the Camrose (Alberta) area. On February 6, 1944 he married Edith Kennedy and they farmed in the Kelsey area until thei retirement to Camrose in 1978. A new community brought with it many new opportunities for volunteerism as well as time for travel and lots of wood working. When the yard work became too much the house was sold and a move was made to Fieldstone Place (condo). Ken had many health issues over the years and he ultimately lost his battle with the latest one on October 7, 2010. His wife and all of his children were with him as he breathed his last - a true gift, indeed.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, six children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.
His funeral was held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, October 11, 2010 at Century Meadows Baptist Church.
From Carrol Burkard (notes for Enos Lamprecht, who delivered her father's eulogy:
Kenneth Edgar Gerber
1 June 1921 ? 7 October 2010
NOTES FOR ENOS LAMPRECHT
Ken was born 1 June 1921 near Drake, North Dakota, second child of Edgar and Alma Gerber. In 1927, when Ken was about 6, the family immigrated to Alberta, settling first in the Camrose area where they lived for a while with Chris Roth, about a mile and a quarter east of my place. Eventually they rented a farm in the Albury district and the children attended Albury School. Later they purchased the Robert Anderson farm in the Kelsey area. That became the home place. Ken attended Melville School followed by a year at Olds College. He then took up mixed farming with his father and brother Virg. In 1944 Ken married Edith Kennedy of Kelsey. Ken?s parents then moved to Camrose. Ken and Virg farmed together for a number of years. In the 50?s they purchased a small ranch near Mayorthorpe, complete with a herd of Hereford cattle. It was from that herd that 4-H calves were chosen for their children. Some time was spent each summer enjoying the log house at the ranch, visiting the interesting neighbours, fishing in the nearby stream or river, and picking wild berries. A feedlot was built at his brother?s place to feed the calves from the ranch?s herd. The ranch was sold. Ken and Virg farmed in partnership until they had sons old enough to begin farming at which time the partnership was dissolved.
Ken and Edith raised a family of 6 children. Ken was the resident barber cutting hair for his wife and kids. Sometimes this even included cutting hair for friends of his kids, especially when brush cuts were in style. Time was always made to take the family on a summer vacation, usually to the mountains. The major vacation was to Disneyland. The drive to and from Disneyland was memorable because 8 people were squeezed into a two-seater car without air-conditioning. A Roger?s Golden Corn Syrup pail full of water was taken along for their comfort. Towels were dipped into the water then held in front of the kids to cool them but Ken had to put the wet towel over his head in order to see to drive. The kids laughed at the people they met doing a double take at the spectacle. Ken loved celebrating special events such as birthdays and anniversaries. His favourite cake that Edith baked for him was chocolate with a date filling and chocolate icing.
Early on it was evident Ken had a talent for designing and building things. He built a wooden archway for his wedding. In 1950 he designed and helped to build a new house on the farm. The house had a wood working shop in the basement and many projects were built there. Later a barn and other out buildings were built. Ken also designed and built a ?farm hand? machine on the chassis of an old truck that was run backward. It had a lift for hay or straw. Another interesting device was a one-wheeled, two-hitched trailer to pull behind the station-wagon to haul the tent and food supplies when taking the family on vacation. Ken also helped to build their new house in the Century Meadows area in Camrose. He particularly enjoyed working with Albert Schmidt who did the fieldstone work on fireplaces, planters, and so on. Ken and Edith moved into their new home in 1978. This new house also had a wood-working shop that usually had a project on the go. Ken built cupboards for two of his kids. He built toy boxes, slides and tables and chairs for grandchildren. Ken also built cupboards and other items for the church, the Senior Center, and the Masonic lodge. Most family and many friends also have folding tables made by Ken. Besides woodworking Ken enjoyed other hobbies at various points in his life. He enjoyed photography, gardening, painting, and latch hooking.
Ken was active in the church, the Masonic Lodge, the Good Sams, Meals on Wheels, Citizen?s Choice in Health local group, and he worked on the building committee for the Senior Centre and before that with the organizational committee for the Ankerton Gas Co-op. Ken drove motor coaches for many bus tours throughout Alberta.
Throughout his life Ken enjoyed sports. He actively participated in baseball until he could no longer do it. He was instrumental in bringing slow pitch ball to Alberta after seeing it played in the States. Ken was on the Camrose gold medal winning slow pitch team in 1983-84. He did a lot of curling and performed well in many bonspiels over the years. In his later years Ken enjoyed watching various sporting events on TV.
His was a very busy life filled with lots of work, volunteer activities, and recreation. He still made time to enjoy activities with his family and friends. [1]
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1921 - 2010 (89 years)
