Mary Sue Gehrke

Mary Sue Gehrke, 82, of Creston, died Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Southern Hills Specialty Care in Osceola. Celebration of Life Memorial Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at Powers Funeral Home in Creston. Pastor Jim Morris will officiate. Services will be livestreamed. Family will receive friends from 9:30-11 a.m. on Saturday. Burial will be later at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery.

Memorials are to the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.powersfh.com.

Mary Sue Gehrke was born Dec. 27, 1942, to William Lester Summy and Mae Belle (Templeton) in Redfield. She graduated from Redfield Community School in 1961. In 1976 she moved to Idaho and worked for CCI making ammunition in Lewiston, Idaho.

On Feb. 14, 1977, Mary Sue was united in marriage to Gail Robert Gehrke in Asotin, Washington. She was a waitress at various restaurants and did factory work at the Redfield Brickyard. In 2002 they moved back to Creston, where she retired. Mary Sue was a former member of the Redfield Christian Church, member of Jerusalem Church of Creston and Lincoln Township Neighbors. Mary Sue loved quilting, painting and gardening.

Survivors include her husband Gail Gehrke; two sons, Scott Kearns and Darcy Kearns; three grandchildren; many nieces; nephews; cousins and her brother-in-law Gary Linn (Nancy) Gehrke.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son Jimmy Kearns and nine brothers and sisters: Verne Lester, Richard Charles, Lyle Edward, Raymond Lee, Patti Mae, Leonard Dean, William Harold, Ethel Eloise and Betty Lou.