Richard Dwight Gerking

Richard Dwight Gerking was born on August 2, 1944, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Henry Wilfred Gerking and Kathryn Doris Davis Gerking. A visitation will be held at Christy-Smith Funeral Homes, Morningside Chapel (1801 Morningside Ave) on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM followed by a eulogy and Masonic service by Morningside Lodge #615. Services will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the Elliott Creek Presbyterian Church in Bronson, Iowa. Burial will follow at the Fairview Cemetery, Albaton, Iowa.

Richard attended Whiting Elementary School until fourth grade and Bronson Community School grades four through graduation in 1962. Richard attended Wayne State College, Wayne, Nebraska, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, Morningside College, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Behavior Disabilities, and went on to Drake University, where he earned his Specialist Degree in School Administration.

On June 12, 1966, Richard was united in marriage with Rita Kay Waddell, his high school sweetheart, at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sioux City. To this union, a son, Bryce Walker Gerking, was born. They were married for sixty years. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at Elliot Creek Presbyterian Church, where Rita’s parents and maternal grandparents also celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries.

Richard’s career focused on education. He taught in the Sioux City School System for nineteen years. Richard became a Special Education Consultant at the Southern Prairie Area Education Agency in Ottumwa, later becoming a Principal at Cardinal of Eldon and still later at West Harrison Community Schools in Mondamin, where he also served as Principal and Superintendent until he retired in 2010.

The farm at Bronson was also special to Richard, who always had cows and calves. He started out by saying “If I just had ten cows!” Richard’s dad fell ill and Richard took over the farming when he was sixteen. He also liked to travel, especially to the Bahamas.

Richard was a member of the Elliot Creek Presbyterian Church of Bronson, Iowa. Membership also included 50-year membership in Morningside Lodge #615 of Sioux City, Loess Hills Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, where he held several offices and also served as Grand Chaplin for the Iowa Order of the Eastern Star in 2023. Richard served the Boy Scouts of America Troop 260 as Scout Master. He was also a member of the Sioux City Scottish Rite, the Abu Bekr Shrine, where he was associated with the Clown Unit and the White Horse Mounted Patrol. While with the White Horse Mounted Patrol, he performed with Festis, the trick mule, as well as being an active rider. Richard would participate in clown competition at Shrine Conventions, receiving awards for his costume and makeup as a White Face clown. Richard served as a Township Assessor and later as a Trustee for Grange Township. Richard was a member of the Stockyards Collector Society.

He is survived by his wife, Rita; Bryce Gerking, only son; brother, Will Gerking; nephews, Todd (Jill) Gerking, Brett (Gina) Gerking, Tom Gerking, and Doug Waddell; nieces, Amy Gerking (Matt) Anderson, and Terri Waddell; and sever cousins. Preceding Richard were his parents, H.W. and Kathryn (Davis) Gerking; in-laws, Ralph and Myrtle (Bardsley) Waddell; brother, Robert (Bob) Gerking; sisters-in-law, Mary Dugan Gerking, and Janel Rskowsky Gerking; and nephew Robert Mark Gerking.

Memorials may be shared between Elliott Creek Presbyterian Church, Loess Hills Eastern Star, Morningside Lodge #615, and Mitchell House.