Burke Gerharz

Burke Gerharz, 66, of Creston, Iowa, died Saturday, February 21, 2015 at his home. Celebration of Life Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Creston. Father Ken Halbur will officiate. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, west of Creston. Open visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, at the Powers Funeral Home junction of highway 34 and 25 in Creston. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Creston Endowment Fund held at South Central Iowa Community Foundation. Online condolences can be given at www.powersfh.com.

Anthony Burke Gerharz, son of Helen Imogene (McDaniel) Gerharz and Anthony Gerharz, was born May 20, 1948 in Billings, Mont. He graduated from Billings Central Catholic High School in 1966 and the University of Portland in 1971 with a Degree in Finance. He went on to work as an accountant for the National Park Service at Yellowstone National Park.

On January 14, 1978, Burke married Ellen Rummel in Rawlins, Wyo. They lived and worked throughout southern California and Montana, where Burke did accounting for U.S. Gypsum for many years. Moving to the Los Angeles area, Burke accepted a position as Chief Financial Officer for Thomas Nix. Years later, they returned to Montana to work. In 1999, they moved to Creston, where Burke did accounting for Papetti’s and later, for Southern Iowa Resources for Families, until his health required him to slow down.

Burke was a proud Portland Pilot Alumni, but bled black and gold and supported the Iowa Hawkeyes as his own. Burke was also a lifelong Los Angeles Dodgers Fan. In his spare time, he enjoyed photography, reading, fishing, crossword puzzles and upland bird and duck hunting.

Survivors include his wife, Ellen Gerharz of Creston; two daughters, Jennifer Gerharz of Iowa City and Jessica (husband Isaiah) Scales of Los Angeles, Calif.; a son, Anthony Gerharz, Jr. of Billings, Mont.; his four-legged son, Baron and grand-dog, Gus; two sisters, Christie (husband Thomas) Gorman of Olympia, Wash. and Julie (husband Ben) Webinger of Spokane, Wash.; mother-in-law, Marilyn Rummel of Saratoga, Wyo.; brother-in-law, Floyd (wife Luanne) Rummel of Lead, S.D.; sister-in-law, Cynthia Suarez of Taylors, S.C.; nine nieces and nephews; several great nieces and nephews; and a brother, John (wife Diane) Gerharz of Billings, Mont.

Burke was preceded in death by his parents, his father-in-law, Floyd Rummel, Jr., two aunts, Ann and Margaret Gerharz and an uncle, Joseph Gerharz.