Diedrich Gerken, 95, of Harmony Township, died Saturday, November 9, 2002 in Manor Care Health Services, Salibury Township, Pa. with his beloved family by his side.

He was a forger in the forging department at Ingersoll-Rand in Phillipsburg for many years until he retired in 1972.

Born January 14, 1907 in Wummingen, Germany, he was the son of the late Johann Hinrich and Meta Runne Gerken.

He attended Calvary Community Church in Lower Harmony Township.

He was a beekeeper since age twelve and was a member of the New Jersey Beekeepers Association. He was also a former member of the Roxburg Grange #116 in Roxburg.

His wife, the former Frances Elizabeth Myers died in 1975.

He is survived by two daughters, Frances Dianna Troxell of Harmony and Kathryn L. Berger of Phillipsburg; a sister, Grete of Bremen, Germany; two granddaughters, Kelly Lynn Figler and Domenica Lee Rothrock; a great-granddaughter, Lindsey Elizabeth Rothrock. Six brothers, Earnest, Gerhardt, Hinrich, Herman, John and William and three sisters, Anna, Kathryn and Meta, and a son-in-law, William H. Berger all died earlier.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 13 in the Calvary Community Church, 4 Old Church Rd., Harmony Twp., N.J. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. in the Noto-Wynkoop Funeral Home, 289 South Main St., Phillipsburg. Online condolences may be submitted at www.noto-wynkoop.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to either the Warren County Public Health Nursing Agency, 162 E. Washington Ave., or the Visiting Homemakers of Warren County, 18 Broad St., both in Washington, NJ 07882.