Gerda D. Hayes age 95, passed away on Monday, December 20, 2021 at Aurora Medical Center-Kenosha surrounded by her family.
Born in Kenosha, WI on January 18, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Samuel and Helen Henke. She was a graduate of Bradford High School. On November 8, 1947 in Chicago, IL, she was married to Harry Hayes. They spent 61 years together until his death in 2009.
She was employed at American Motors Corporation in the early years of marriage and found the work both challenging and rewarding. Gerda was a dedicated homemaker and mother to her three children. She was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church for most of her life and her church meant a great deal to her. She loved listening to Moody Bible Radio.
She is survived by her children, Michael (Cheryl) Hayes, Phillip Hayes and Elizabeth (John) Allen; her four grandchildren, Andrew and Matthew Hayes, Lindsey and Sarah Allen and her sister Lorraine (Melvin) Behr.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Irma Jensen and Ruth Joyce.