Obituary of Germaine Kelchen

Survivors include 3 sons: Ron (Mickey) of Hopkinton, IA, Ken (Linda) of Dyersville, IA, and Dan "Duke" (Vickie) of Cascade, IA; 4 daughters: Mary (Dave) Benke of Cascade, IA, Joan (Rod) Meyer of Worthington, IA, Bev (Bill) Hentges of Ocala, FL, and Deb (Al) Brunsmann of Dyersville, IA; a son-in-law, Jeff Blank of Vinton, IA; 24 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; 6 sisters: Esther (John) Reichenauer of Monticello, IA, Mary Jane Reichenauer of Farley, IA, Sr. Margaret Ann Recker of Milwaukee, WI, Helen Hawker of Cedar Rapids, IA, Velma (John) Krapfl of Dyersville, IA, Karol (Jim) Koch of Fairfax, IA; 6 brothers: Louis (Mildred) Recker of Holy Cross, IA, Robert Recker of North Liberty, IA, George, Jr. (Maureen) Recker of Epworth, IA, Charles (Ann) Recker and Ralph (Eileen) Recker both of Dyersville, IA, and Don (Joan) Recker of Bedford, TX. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Alphonse, on February 11, 1998, a daughter, Jane Blank, on March 18, 1978, a brother, David Recker at birth and two brothers-in-law, Duane Hawker and Pete Reichenauer. Germaine was born on October 24, 1921 in Dyersville, Iowa, the daughter of George J. and Ludwina (Burkle) Recker. She married Alphonse J. Kelchen on October 2, 1945 at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, Iowa. They farmed in the Hopkinton area until their retirement in January of 1976 when they moved to Worthington. Germaine was a member of the St. Paul Catholic Church, their Altar & Rosary Society, and the ACCW. She enjoyed bowling, gardening, playing cards and especially spending time with family and friends.