Hunter Gerdes Obituary (1998 - 2009)

SAUNEMIN - Hunter Keehn Gerdes, 10, Saunemin, died at 11:04 a.m. Monday (Feb. 2, 2009) at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. His funeral Mass will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pontiac, with Monsignor Thomas Mack officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Pontiac. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday with the rosary recited at 3:45 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pontiac. Memorials may be made to Hugs for Hunter or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He was born Sept. 11, 1998, in Pontiac, son of Bradley W. and Jane A Keehn Gerdes. He is survived by his parents; brothers, Leighton Brian Gerdes and Walker Reece Gerdes, both of Saunemin; maternal grandparent, John Keehn, Clifton; maternal stepgrandparents, Chuck Hall, Morocco, Ind., and Tami (Bill) Kreft, Clifton; paternal grandparents, Mary Ann (Richard) Quas, Pontiac, and Leroy Gerdes Jr., Pontiac; great-grandparents, Bill and Jan Faurkner, Ashkum; aunts and uncles, Ryan Quas, Pontiac; Dawn (Mark) Kohrt, Blackstone; Brian Quas, Joliet; Kellie (Tim) Lannon, Saunemin; Matt Faulker, Ashkum; Jeannie Rae Keehn, Ashkum; and Bill and Shari Hall, Brownsburg. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pontiac. He belonged to the Junior Football League and Pontiac Baseball. He was a fourth grader at Saunemin Grade School. Hunter loved life to the fullest; you couldn't keep him sitting still. He enjoyed riding his dirt bike and his four-wheeler, and going snowmobiling. He also enjoyed fishing and being with his friends and family. We will miss his sweet smile and tender heart. A special thank you to Mike and Laura Kovach for caring for our boys as though they were your own.