Former Portland, Ind. resident Eileen D. Gaerke, 88, Berne, Ind., died at 7:35 p.m. March 12, 2011, at Adams Memorial Hospital in Decatur, Ind.

She was born Nov. 26, 1922, in St. Henry, to Lawrence and Mary Gelhaus Franck. On Jan. 20, 1944, she married Harold J. Gaerke, who died Nov. 3, 2002.

Surviving are three sons, Thomas (Rita) Gaerke, Portland, Ind., Steve Gaerke, Chicago, Ill. and Harold (Patricia) Gaerke, Geneva, Ind.; five daughters, Diana (Don) Collins, Portland, Ind., Sharon (Don) Link, Union City, Ind., Peggy Starr, Fort Wayne, Ind., Janice (Randy) Pitsenbarger, Versailles, Marjorie (Jeffrey) Baker, Bristol, Ind.; three sisters-in-law, Laura Franck, St. Henry, Luella Franck, Coldwater, and Rita Franck, St. Henry; 30 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.

Also deceased are two sisters, Genevieve Stachler and Lucy Hoelscher; eight brothers, Raymond, Ferd, Ed, Leo, Florence, Walter, Malcolm and Paul Franck.

She was a member of the Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Fort Recovery.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, the Rev. Thomas Dorn officiating. Burial is at St. Marys Cemetery in Fort Recovery.

Calling is 2-8 p.m. Tuesday and 9-10 a.m. Wednesday at Brockman-Boeckman Funeral Home in Fort Recovery.

Memorials may be made to the State of the Heart Hospice.

Condolences may be left at www.brockmanboeckmanfh.com.