Beverly Gerdes

Beverly Jean Gerdes, 89, a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother was called home to heaven on December 3, 2021. Born on September 27, 1932, to William and Stella Heinz in Dubuque, IA and baptized on October 9, 1932, she was a life-long Christian and member of the Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod. In 1955, she married Everett Gerdes and supported him as they served a congregation in California before he answered the call to serve our country as an Air Force Chaplain. They were stationed in many locations across the country and served in Europe. Upon his retirement, they lived in Texas before moving to Las Cruces, NM in 1993. Known to friends as Bev, she was active in the life of the various local congregations they joined over the years, serving in multiple roles from evangelism to prayer ministry to singing in the choir. She loved music, reading, walking, her dogs, and most of all her family. She raised six children and was blessed with seven grandchildren as well as six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Everett, her parents, older brother, Roger (Vietnam), and son Paul; she is survived by her children, Mark and Karen, Joel, Philip, Peter and Trisha, all of Austin, TX; Beth and Greg Fant of Highlands Ranch, CO. She is also survived by her brother, Don Heinz and Carolyn of Chico, CA as well as her sister, Sandra Loyer and Milt of Mechanicsburg, PA. The funeral service will be held December 28, 2021, at 11:00 AM at Mission Lutheran Church, 2752 Roadrunner Parkway, Las Cruces. The family extends gratitude and appreciation to Jill Shannon and the staff at Blue Horizon for their love and care for Beverly the last two and half years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Mission Lutheran Church and School.