Gerald Yelken

Gerald Delmar Yelken, age 85 of Franklin, Nebraska, passed away on March 11, 2014 at the Golden Living Venter in Franklin. He was born January18, 1929 on the family farm in Spring Valley, near Riverton, to Dieke and Louise Folkers Yelken.

Gerald grew up in Spring Valley, attended Pleasant Ridge School District 60 through 8th grade and graduated from Franklin High School in 1946. He married Roberta Harvey on September17, 1950 in the Spring Valley Methodist Church.

Gerald was drafted into the US Army in January 1952 and served in Korea with the 145th Field Artillery Battalion from December 1952 through the cessation of hostilities in July 1953. He returned home from Korea in December 1953. He and Roberta lived and worked on the family farm for over thirty years where they raised three boys; Curtis, Kevin, and David. At age sixty he and Roberta built their home in Franklin and he continued to farm for several more years. He enjoyed woodworking crafts in his workshop for several years in retirement. He spent the last four years of his life at the Golden Living Center in Franklin. Throughout Gerald’s life, he served on many boards and committees, most notable being the Franklin County ASC Committee and the Board of the Golden Age Village. Gerald attended the Spring Valley and Franklin United Methodist Churches and was an active member of the Franklin VFW #5757 for many years.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brother Leonard Yelken and twin sister Geraldine Yelken Monie.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Roberta; three sons, Curtis Yelken and wife Pam of River Falls, WI, Kevin Yelken and his wife Tina of Marietta, GA, and David Yelken and wife Anne of Grapevine, TX; sisters, Lorraine Yelken Kahrs, and Ruth Yelken Schmidt and husband George Schmidt. His life was also blessed with thirteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 15, 2014 at the Franklin United Methodist Church and internment will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Franklin. Visitation will be Friday, from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Hutchins Funeral Home in Franklin, NE.