THE LEGACY
OF FRANK GERKIN (Excerpts)
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Frank Gerkin’s grandfather, Karl Gerkin, was born in 1833 in
Germany. He left home at 19 “to seek fame and fortune” in
America. After six weeks of sailing across the Atlantic, he entered the
United States at New Orleans. Karl traveled up the Mississippi River
to St. Louis and applied for citizenship. He married Anna Pope in 1887
. . . She was born during the Civil War, traveled across the country
in a covered wagon, and lived to see a satellite in space . . . Karl
and Anna’s son, Fred Gerkin, married Irene Dyer in 1909. Their
oldest son, Frank Gerkin, was born in 1911 . . .
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Fred Gerkin was a successful businessman. He died during an influenza
epidemic in 1922. He became ill one day and was gone the next. He left
Irene behind with three young children. Frank was eleven. Irene was so
distraught she couldn’t tell the children he was gone. They knew
something was wrong and waited daily for their father by the gate. It
was three weeks before she could bear to tell them . . . Several years
later, Irene married George Harman. He was a decent man, but a poor businessman.
Within a few years, the family’s money was gone. Frank learned
that having money meant being safe: not having money meant not being
safe. He worked from an early age . . . Frank graduated from high school
in 1929 at the beginning of the Depression . . .
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Frank met Charlotte Meyers at a party in 1938. They danced, played
croquet, and ate homemade ice cream. Charlotte was pretty, smart, a wonderful
dancer, and Frank adds that she had a lovely shape. On their third date,
he said, “If you’ll marry me, I’ll make a million dollars.” She
accepted. However, she had to loan him $3 when they were married 30 days
later. After the wedding, since they did not yet have a home, he had
to watch her be driven off to her parents’ home. Frank made $10
a week and claimed his bride 30 days later. Sexual pleasures were as
yet unknown, but Frank rose to the occasion . . . Once he could afford
them, he liked to drive fast cars, motorcycles, and boats. He admits
to being a bit wild . . .
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Frank and Charlotte have four children. Frank talks about lining them
up in front of the fireplace and instructing them to always be honest.
The talk must have worked. He is proud that all of his children are intelligent,
responsible, productive adults . . .
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At 90, Frank describes himself as being “a fugitive from a nursing
home.” He lives at home, mows his lawn, grows a large garden, and
walks a mile daily with his dog. Frank attributes his good health to
eating garlic, drinking red wine, and staying away from doctors. He leaves
a legacy of hard work to provide for his family. Franks admits that they
probably thought he worked too much and wants them to know that he always
loved them.
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