Geraldine Bosanko

Geraldine Gladys Bosanko, age 91 of Decorah, IA, passed away on October 23, 2021, of natural causes at Wellington Place in Decorah. Burial will be in the Ipswich Cemetery in Ipswich, SD, at a later date.

Geraldine "Gerry" Gladys Peterson Bosanko was born January 24, 1930, on a farm in North Dakota during a severe snowstorm with a temperature of -36°. She was raised on her family farm and attended eight years of school in a one-room schoolhouse. She graduated from Ipswich High School in 1947 while working for her room and board at a funeral home.

After graduation she was united in marriage to W. Richard "Dick" Bosanko on September 21, 1948, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, SD. To this union two daughters were born, Donna Lea and Julie Ka.

Gerry and Dick moved from South Dakota to Iowa in March of 1956 when Dick became an electrical lineman with Interstate Power Company. Gerry worked as a secretary in both South Dakota and Iowa. She retired as secretary for Health Services at Luther College in 1990.

Gerry was a very active member of the Congregational Church of Christ, the Decorah Jaycees, and volunteered with Dick at the VFW and American Legion. She enjoyed playing cards and square dancing.

Gerry is survived by daughters Donna (Jim) Sailor-Dalton of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Julie (Gary) Mohr of Coralville, Iowa; four grandchildren: Peter (Mary Lyn) Sailor of Ames, Iowa, Matthew (Robin) Sailor of Decorah, Iowa, Stephanie (Brandon) Lange of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and Dr. Whitney Mohr of Tucson, Ariz .; five great grandchildren: Alyssa Sailor (Evyn Haro) of Lancaster, Calif., Brennan and Corinne Sailor of Ames, Iowa, Isabella and Lilly Sailor of Decorah, Iowa. Surviving sisters and brothers: Vonnie (Jack) Boe of Fargo, N.D., Gilbert (Marion) Peterson of Longmont, Colo., Linda (Dennis) Batteen of Aberdeen, Richard (Judi) Peterson of Elk Horn, Neb., and Sheila (LeRoy) Gaub of Billings, Mont. Gerry is survived by many nieces and nephews.

Gerry's husband Dick preceded her in death in 2005. Also preceding were her parents Tom and Sadie Peterson; siblings Harold, Dean, Arlene, and Bernadine; and

son-in-law Craig Sailor in 1994.

Condolences may be sent to: Jim and Donna Dalton and family, 142 35th St. Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403 and Gary and Julie Mohr and family, 2072 Glen Oak Dr., Coralville, Iowa 52241.