Alan "Al" Gehrke

Alan "Al" Gehrke, age 84, Watertown, died on Thursday, May 23, 2019 in the Jenkins Living Center at Watertown where he had resided for 2 days.

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 27, 2019 from 4-6 PM at the Furness Funeral Home in Clark. (PLEASE NOTE)

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 10:30 AM in the Furness Funeral Home Chapel at Clark with visitation 1 hour prior to services.  Pastor Scott Dempster will officiate.  Honorary casketbearers will be his grandchildren, nieces, nephews, the McDonald's Coffee Crew and Mark, Butch and Al Fox.  There will be special record music.  Burial will be in the Hague Lutheran Cemetery near Willow Lake at a later date.

Alan Eugene Gehrke was born on September 20, 1934 at the family home at Willow Lake, the son of Albert and Ruth (Thorne) Gehrke.  He attended primary grades in the county school about a 1 ½ miles home. He later started his freshmen year in town, he was so shy that he quit school.  He regained his confidence, enrolled and went on to graduate from Willow Lake High School in 1953.

Al started playing accordion at a very young age, having his first public performance at a neighbor's barn dance at the age of 11.  This would be the beginning of a 7 3 year journey of entertaining.  He joined his father and sister, Joyce, in the family band, the "Gehrke Ramblers".  While Al played with the C Bar X Rangers" performing on the radio and also recorded a 33 record album.  Later Lyal Larson joined Al to create the "Lyal & Al Dance Band".  Throughout the years Al had played in all areas of the Midwest.  His easy going fun loving nature made him a much sought after entertainer, incorporating a few jokes along with his music.  He loved to see people smile and laugh!

On March 21, 1953 Alan married his high school sweetheart, Marlys Lee at Madison, SD in a private ceremony.  To this union, they were blessed with 6 children, Rod, Laura, Marty, Lyle, Arla, and a son in infancy that died.  The couple lived in and around Willow Lake their entire married life.  Together they enjoyed gardening, remodeling the family home, spending time with family and friends.  Friday's and Saturday's were spent entertaining and socializing all over the state.  Sundays the family spent time with Al's family taking turns hosting.  Every family member's birthday was celebrated together with cake and ice cream.  Holiday s were always celebrated together as a big loud happy family.

Al started farming in 1954 with his father, his father was happy and gifted him a tractor to get started.  The land was rocky and farming was tough.  In the early 1960's Al took a job with Koehn Manufacturing selling farm equipment and products.  The family was growing and the little two bedroom home was busting at the seams.  In 1966 Al and Marlys bought a big beautiful home in town.  SO they loaded up a couple of cows and sheep and moved to town.  Meester Implement was looking for a mechanic so Al repaired farm equipment there part time for several years.  Missing the excitement of sales he took a job with Johnson Manufacturing.  One year he was salesman of the year and won a new TV- among other things.  Al designed a special "chaff blower" for combines.  A & M Distributing was formed.  The chaff spreaders along with a few other items allowed Al to be self-employed until his retirement selling throughout America and Canada.  In 1989 the marriage dissolved and soon after Al moved to be closer to Marge Rode.  It didn't take long and Al was missing his family and as soon as Marge finished up her schooling and received her certificate as an LPN, they moved to Watertown.  Al had his son-in-law Steve build a beautiful home near town.  The couple enjoyed planting all kinds of plants and trees to glorify the property.  Every year a huge garden was planted and the bounty shared with many.  Morning coffee at McDonald's with the guys laughing and joking and solving the world's problems, what a way to start the day!

Alan met the neighbors and almost instantly a strong bond was formed.  Throughout the years they have helped each other whenever needed even if it might be a good prank to remind each other to have fun in life.  Al would tinker on their motors and usually could always fix the problem.  Mark Fox always made sure that there was never a problem with snow removal, bringing "Slick" to visit.

Al enjoyed working on all older engines.  If someone called and said "just can't seem to get it to run right" he was there in a flash, loving the challenge almost always fixing the problem.  Throughout the years Al restored over 25 antique tractors, taking them completely apart and putting them back together being a perfectionist they are all show case ready and run perfectly.  Starting with the Centennial Parades, Al enjoyed running his many tractors through the 4 ^th of July Parades accompanied with many of his grandchildren and winning several awards.

Not one for organized religion, he studied the Bible everyday with Shepherd's Chapel, Pastor Arnold Murry was a large part of bring Al to know God on a quiet and personal level.

Those happy to share his life are his partner, Marge Rode of Watertown, children and grandchildren, Rod (Violet) Gehrke of Longview, TX and their children Kelley, Bryce, and Rhonda, Laura (Steve) Wolcott of Watertown and their children, Joshua, Stephanie, Rachael, and Jamin, Lyle (Dawn) Gehrke of Castlewood and their children, Amanda, Liza, and Sterling, Arla (Mark) Maynard and daughter, Michelle (Missy) and Rhonda Rode and children , Jamison and Amirah; 17 step grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren and 16 step great-grandchildren, sisters, Joyce (Roy) Brothers of Watertown, Marilyn (Rich) Grable of Kerrville, TX and a brother, Walt (Delores) Gehrke of  Willow Lake.  He also leaves a sister-in-law, Roneau Brakke of Goodlettsville, TN and a brother-n-law, Larry Bowen of Pleasanton, CA, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Preceding him in death are his parents, grandparents, 2 sons, Marty and a son in infancy, sisters, Fern Carroll and Lila Haug, sister-in-law, Marlene Bowen and a brother-in-law, Arvin Brakke.  The children's mother, Marlys Lee also preceded in death.

The Furness Funeral Home at Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com

Please click on the following link to view a memorial video: http://videos.lifetributes.com/1002067