Janel B. Gerking

Janel Gerking of Sioux City, Iowa passed away on Monday October 16, 2023, at a local
hospital following a brief illness. She was born Janel Bernice Rakowsky on July 23, 1936 at
Norfolk, Nebraska, the oldest child of Edwin and Bernice (May) Rakowsky. She attended
Norfolk public schools and graduated from Norfolk High School in 1954.

After receiving a Junior Elementary Certificate from Wayne State College in 1956, Janel
began teaching elementary school at Hoskins, Nebraska while continuing her studies at Wayne. She earned her bachelor's degree from Wayne in 1958 and took an elementary teaching position in Sioux City. Janel taught at several different Sioux City elementary schools, before finishing her career as a middle school mathematics teacher at both Hayworth and East Middle. She retired in 2001 having spent 45 years in public education.

Janel married Wilfred (Will) Gerking of Sioux City on May 25, 1963, at Elk Point, South
Dakota. The couple have a son, Brett, and a daughter, Amy.

She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Sioux City Area Retired Educators and Round Table Club. Janel enjoyed her pets, quilting, gardening, jigsaw puzzles and Scrabble.
She was a devoted sister, mother, grandmother and friend.

Janel was preceded in death by her parents, her stepmother Dorothy and her brother
Dwight Rakowsky. She is survived by her husband of sixty years Wilfred; her brother Farell
(Shirley) Rakowsky of Clermont, Florida; her son Brett (Gina) Gerking of Las Vegas, Nevada;
her daughter Amy (Matt) Anderson of Sioux City, arid her grandchildren Gryphon, Corali4e,
Emily, Zoe and Miles.

There will be no funeral per her wishes. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. In
lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to the Siouxland Humane Society or Noah's Hope Pet Rescue.