Obituary of Ferd Erker

Longtime Cheyenne Wells, Colorado resident Ferd Erker, age 90, died Sunday June 8, 2008 at the Keefe Memorial Hospital in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado. Ferdinand Francis Erker was born on August 14, 1917 in Ost, Kansas to Frederick and Caroline (Haukap) Erker. He was one of nine children born to this union. Ferd faithfully served his country during World War II in the United States Air Force. He entered the service in Oct. 1942 and was honorably discharged in Oct. 1945. On March 29, 1948 he was united in marriage to Mary Kathryn O’Connor in the Catholic Church in Wellington, Kansas. They moved to Cheyenne Wells that same year where they would raise their children Carol, Marian, Steve, Harold and Lana. Ferd helped with the farming for his mother after his dads’death in 1931. He enlisted in the US Army Air Force in Oct. 1942 and was sent to Shepard Field, Texas. From there he was sent to Ford Dearborn plant to learn the mechanics for B17 airplanes. He was sent to Framingham England in July 1942 to the 390th Bombardment Group as a B17 airplane mechanic. He told of many tear-jerking stories of his WWII years and experiences of losses and near losses. The B17s’ came in all shot up and they were to put them back together again. He always talked about the Liberty Belle and the Cabin in the Sky planes he remembered. He said one time they sent out 5 planes and after a while only 4 had returned. He told his captain that if that last one didn’t get back soon, it wouldn’t be coming back because it wouldn’t have any fuel left. Just a short while later here came the plane with no lights on because he was being followed. It landed safely – but on fumes!! Ferds’ name appears on the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC and he is a member of the 390th Memorial Museum foundation in Tucson, Arizona. Dad only went to school until the 8th grade, but he was always able to help us with any grade of homework we needed help with. Dad was smarter than he gave himself credit for. He told the service he wasn’t qualified for officers school, but he later tested out at sophomore level in college. Dad never liked to go fishing and we never really knew why. When we kids where grown, he told us of his dad going to take him & his brother fishing one day. His dad had a bad headache so they didn’t get to go. The next evening his dad had died. Grandpa always gave Tiffany a hard time about being left handed and said she couldn’t use those scissors or the fork because they were made for a right handed person. He told Grant that bananas had seeds and they would grow in his belly so Grant wouldn’t eat bananas. Grandkids remember him always needing his pop and cookie break in the afternoon. You all know that grandma was the nurse, but if we had a splinter we went to DAD! Or if we smashed a finger dad would use the needle or drill bit to make the hole to release the pressure. One day just a while back dad was working in Steves’ shop and needed some more stain. So, not being used to using the telephone (because he couldn’t see well), he ended up dialing “911â€? and said he needed Lana. So the sheriff arrived at Cindy’s door and asked if she needed help. Cindy knew nothing – but thought maybe they should check on Ferd. So to the shop they went & dad told them he just needed Lana to get him some more stain. If mom was to be gone over lunch she would put a plate of food in the microwave and all dad had to do was to push the button. However he wouldn’t do that, he would just open a can of soup and fix it on the stove. If Lana would fix the plate & set the microwave, then it was OK. Ferd enjoyed farming and woodworking. His excellent woodworking ability is evident at Sacred Heart Church, his home and in all his childrens’ homes. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus of which he was a charter member. He also served on the local CO-OP Board of Directors and was a member of the Farm Bureau. Ferd enjoyed the time he spent with his family and was an avid member of the Cheyenne Wells community. Preceding him in death were his parents, two brothers Henry and August, three sisters, Agnes Erker, Johannah Englebrecht and Dee Gilger. Also preceding are two grandsons, Patrick Brooks and Cody Pelton. Surviving family members include his loving wife of sixty years Mary Kay, their children and families, Carol Brooks and husband Kenneth of Lamar, CO, Marian Schulte and husband Clyde of Wichita, KS, Steve Erker and wife Cindy of Cheyenne Wells, CO, Harold Erker and wife Jan of Elizabeth, CO and Lana Pelton and husband Shane of Cheyenne Wells, CO. Also surviving are two brothers, Fred Erker of Wellington, KS and Raymond Erker of Wichita, KS and one sister, Marie Erker also of Wichita, KS. Ferd is also survived by fifteen grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and a host of special friends. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 11th, at the church from 6:00 to 8:00 PM with a Rosary being said at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday June 12, 2008 at 10:00 AM at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Cheyenne Wells. Father Kuzma and Father Jerome presiding. Burial will follow with military honors in the Fairview Cemetery, Cheyenne Wells. A memorial fund is being established in his name to the Keefe Memorial Hospital or the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, both in Cheyenne Wells. Donations may be left at or sent to the Eastern Colorado Bank in Cheyenne Wells, CO.