Geraldine S. Moore

ROCK FALLS – Geraldine S. Moore, 97, of Rock Falls, died Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Prophetstown.

Geraldine was born Jan. 25, 1915, in Ellendale, Minn., the daughter of Virgil and Stella (Gunning) Roush. She married Kenneth H. Moore, her high school sweetheart, on Dec. 10, 1933, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Sheffield. They farmed in the Mineral and Sheffield area from 1936 to 1955, when they moved to the Rock Falls area and farmed until Kenneth retired in 1977.

Geraldine, known by most as Jeri, was a special lady who lived her life teaching those around her love and compassion for others. She did this in many ways through her involvement in the community and church. She worked in the Expanded Nutrition Program through the University of Illinois. She was chairman of the Montmorency Home Extension Unit and served on the 4-H board. She learned to play the organ at the age of 65, and began playing at Saturday evening Mass at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Rock Falls. Dancing also was a favorite pastime that she and her husband shared, and they were members of the Sterling Family Moose. She also entertained others by playing her keyboard at six different nursing homes and served ice cream at two nursing homes.

She was nominated Woman of the Year at St. Andrew Church in 2002, and was chosen Senior of the Month in September 2001 because of her active involvement in the community. She also established an Education Advisory Endowment in the Catholic Foundation. This foundation helped those who could not afford to send their children to a Catholic school. She felt, “If what I have can help others give their children a good Catholic education, then I should do it.” We who have been close to her feel lucky to have had her as our mother, grandmother and mentor.

Surviving are two sisters, Margaret Diedrich and Bernadine Brumas; three daughters, Elaine (James) Vercher of Prophetstown, Elouise Bonar of Hanover and Karen (Norman) Barnum of Rock Falls; two sons, Roger (Rogene) Moore of Rock Falls and Mark (Barbara) Moore of Panora, Iowa; 18 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; and 26 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Kenneth, in 1992; a son-in-law, Everett “Bud” Bonar; two brothers, Martin and Virgil; and two sisters, Thelma Carper and Stella McConnell.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., with the rosary recited at 5:45 p.m., Friday at McDonald Funeral Home, 1002 12th Ave. Rock Falls. Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Andrew Catholic Church, with Monsignors Thomas Dzielak and Gerald Kobbeman concelebrating. Burial will be at Oak Knoll Memorial Park in Sterling.

A memorial has been established to St. Andrew Grade School in Rock Falls.