Gerhard H. Kuchenbecker, 84

Elmore — Gerhard H. Kuchenbecker, age 84, of Elmore, died Jan. 6, 2010 at his home in Elmore. Funeral Services are today, Jan. 11, 2010 at 11 a.m. at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Blue Earth. Rev. Leo Charles Koppala officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Blue Earth. Patton Funeral Home and Cremation Service was in charge of arrangements.

Gerhard was born on April 15, 1925 in Elmore Township, the son of Ernest and Ida (Stenzel) Kuchenbecker. Gerhard was raised and educated in the Elmore and Frost area. Gerhard entered the Army in 1945 where he served during WWII in the infantry as a military policeman. While in the service he was a German interpreter and guarded German prisoners of war. On Dec. 29, 1949 Gerhard married Mary S. Alleven in Winnebago. Gerhard and Mary were life long farmers and cattle feeders in the Elmore area. Gerhard was a member of the VFW and the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Kuchenbecker, of Elmore; sons, Donald (Judi) Kuchenbecker of Blue Earth; Kenneth (Sara) Kuchenbecker, of Rake, Iowa; daughter, Ruth (Franz) Scholtz, of Elmore; son-in-law, Steve Gerken, of Belle Plaine, four grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Gerhard was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Kathleen Gerken in 2006, brothers, Walter and Harold Kuchenbecker, sisters, Luella Boettcher, Esther Mittelstadt, and Velma Cyphers.

Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com