To: All Faculty Members
From: Thomas W. Hansmeier, Vice President for Student Services
Date: November 30, 1972
J. F. Gerken, M. D., longtime resident of the area and associated with the Student Health Service for nearly ten years until his retirement in March 1972, passed away early Wednesday morning, November 29, 1972, at St. Francis Hospital, Waterloo.
Dr. Gerken was born in Dewitt, Iowa, on December 16, 1897. He graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1914, studied for one year at the Iowa State Teachers College, and earned the baccalaureate and M. D. degrees from the University of Iowa in 1917 and 1921, respectively. He stayed on at SUI until 1929 as a child welfare clinician, and was in private practice in Waterloo from 1929 through 1962. Dr. Gerken was named Associate Director of the Student Health Service in 1962, served as Director from 1966-68, and was a full-time or part-time physician in the Health Service until his retirement earlier this year.
Dr. Gerken is survived by his wife, Lillian, 155 Elmridge, Waterloo. Funeral Services will be on Friday, December 1, at 2:00 p.m. in Christ Church Chapel, Trinity Episcopal Church, 610 East 4th, Waterloo.