Charlene L. Gerst, 62, of Morning Sun, died Tuesday, Oct, 15, 2024, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington. She trusted and loved the Lord throughout her courageous battle with stage 4 breast cancer.
Born Aug. 28, 1962, in Morris, Minn., she was the daughter of Donald Bill and Della Ruby Metzger Luthi.
Charlene graduated from Morris Area High School in 1981. She attended Alexandria Technical School of Interior Design. On March 22, 1987 she married Charles D. Gerst in Morris, Minn.
Charlene was self-employed and ran a cleaning service for 35 years. She attended the Apostolic Christian Church her entire life where she repented and was baptized Oct. 28, 1979 in Morris, Minn. She was a member of the Mediapolis Apostolic Christian Church. She was very involved with the Operation Christmas Child program. She loved sending cards for all occasions to her loved ones. She volunteered as an EMT for Morning Sun Community Ambulance and Mediapolis Ambulance Services.
Survivors include her husband Charles of Morning Sun; married David Zimmerman and to this union Orrin and Cassia. Also survived by daughter-in-law Anna and grandson, Isaiah of Vail, Arizona; Mother, Della Luthi of Morris, Minnesota; siblings, Sheryl Luthi of Egan, Minn., Bradley (Danette) Luthi of Gretna, Neb. and Galen Luthi of Morris, Minn.; one niece, Claire Luthi and one nephew, Gavin Luthi.
She was preceded in death by her father Donald and daughter Janella Zimmerman.
The funeral for Charlene will be 10 a.m Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024 at the Mediapolis Apostolic Christian Church with ministers of the church officiating. Visitation will be 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, 2024 at Lunning Chapel in Burlington. The family will receive friends from 8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at church on Saturday for those who could not attend visitation Friday. Interment will be in the Apostolic Christian Church Cemetery in rural Oakville.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House