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Submitted: 1/28/21 • Approved: 1/29/21 • Last Updated: 2/1/21 • R383235-G0-S3
July 21, 1916-August 6, 2015
Photo/information, courtesy of Edith Guynes Stanley
*Obituary
Ronald K. Geerdes, ''Ronnie, 99, of Borger exchanged this earth for his heavenly home on
August 6, 2015, when he passed away peacefully in his sleep.
The funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, April 11, 2015 at Minton Memorial Chapel, with Reverend Leonard Forsythe Pastor of Bible Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Westlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. The family will receive friends from 5:00¬7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 10, 2015 at the Funeral Home.
Ronnie was born in Supply, Oklahoma on July 21, 1916. He was a long¬time resident of Texas, living in Stinnett, Amarillo, and Borger, calling himself a "Texas improved Okie." When Ronnie was a small boy, he attended the Moorland, OK school. At age eight, his father was killed in a work accident, bringing many changes to the Geerdes family of 7 children. Ronnie, one of the younger children, had to grow up fast, sometimes working for different families to help with his room and board.
In 1935, during the Dust Bowl days of Oklahoma, Ronnie dropped out of the 11th grade. He worked at CCC camps in Perry, OK, Ponca City, OK, and Palisades, CO. After spending 2 years,
6 months, and 3 days in the CCC, he left to go to Gunnison, CO, where he worked on the Taylor Dam. He went on to work at the Supply Lake Dam in OK, and then in the oilfields of Illinois, after he was married. He and his family moved back to Oklahoma for a time, where Ronnie worked for Douglas Aircraft and later in a blacksmith shop. He found that there was work in Texas, and moved to Stinnett where he went to work for Service Drilling Company. He worked as a tool pusher until 1966, and then went to work for Borger Gas Engine & Machine until his retirement in 1984.
From Ronnie Geerdes' first marriage he had five children: Ronnie, Bert, David, Michael, Jane (Fisher), and Monte. In 1957 he married Geraldine (Jerry) Reynolds of Borger, originally from White Deer. She had two daughters, Genevieve (Jenny) and Sharron. This blended family lived at 1201 Lee St. in Borger.
Ronnie was preceded in death by Geraldine, his wife of 48 years (2005), and four of his children Jenny Geerdes (2005), Ronnie Bert Geerdes (2007), Sharron Mittelstet (2012), and Jane Fisher (2012).
Ronnie's true love was fishing. Many memories were made at Lake Meridith with friends and family. He also went to Alaska to fish on several occasions, prior to the loss of his vision. He came to know Christ as his Savior in his 90s, and lived to be 99 years, 2 weeks and 2 days old. He will be greatly missed, but his family and friends are grateful for the hope of Heaven.
Contributed on 1/28/21 by neldapat
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Record #: 383235