Roger "Butch" Gerken

     Roger “Butch” Gerken, age 66 of Little Rock, IA, died Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at East Bank Hospital University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN.        Funeral service will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, May 6th at First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, IA, with Rev. Scott Burdsall officiating.        Burial will follow at Pleasantview Cemetery in Little Rock.        Visitation will be Friday, May 5th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM with family present 6:00 to 8:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock.      Roger “Butch” Allen Gerken was born to Ben and Elsie (DeBoer) Gerken on June 15, 1950 in Sibley, IA. He was raised on the family farm between George, IA and Little Rock, IA. He attended George Community School and graduated in 1969. After his graduation, he remained living at home and helped with farming duties. He also milked cows for several years for area farmers.        Butch was married to Phyllis Zorgdrager on September 1, 1973 at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock.        On April 19, 1997, Butch married LeAnn (Molitor) Bruns in Little Rock and made their home there for twenty years. During this time he worked at Demco in Boyden, IA, Exopack in Sibley and lastly at Farmers Coop Society in Little Rock until retirement in 2015.        In the earlier years, Butch enjoyed playing fast-pitch softball for JR’s Café and Bar and the Bucksaw in Little Rock. Most recently, he loved helping his brother Gregg and nephew Jacob on the family farm. He enjoyed watching westerns, camping, mowing the grass, woodworking, drinking coffee at the Roundtable, and collecting screwdrivers and grease guns. Most of all he loved spending time with his grandkids. Special memories include Butch receiving a big camping chair on his “60th” birthday, dancing the Macarena on a family cruise, and attending his son’s wedding in Texas. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather who truly was a kid at heart.        In early April, Butch was diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. He was admitted into the East Bank Hospital University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN and remained there until May 2, 2017, where he died unexpectedly at the age of 66.        Left to cherish his memory is his wife, LeAnn Gerken of Little Rock, IA; four children, Michael (Danielle) Gerken of Grand Prairie, TX, Lisa (Terry) Harms of Little Rock, IA, Kari (Scott) Cornelius of Good Thunder, MN and Clinton Bruns (Tara VanderPlaats) of Little Rock, IA; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Orlene (Conrad) Van Zee of Rock Valley, IA and Bonnie (Fred) Hilbrands of Sheldon, IA; four brothers, John (Beverly) Gerken of George, IA, Lyle (Joann) Gerken of Little Rock, IA, Gregg (Dennise) Gerken of Little Rock, IA and Eric Gerken of Centralia, MO; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.        He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Elsie Gerken; infant brother, Lanys; niece, Kelli Klaassen; mother-in-law, Christina Freese; and brother-in-law, Ted Molitor Jr.