Wanda (Hinkle) Gerber (87) of Louisville

Wanda (Hinkle) Gerber, 87 of Louisville, Illinois went peacefully to be with the Lord at 5:29 a.m. Thursday, October 7, 2021 at the Cisne Rehabilitation Center, Cisne Illinois.

Wanda was born on March 21, 1934 in Clay County, Illinois the daughter of Pearl and Opal Hinkle. She married Jerry Eckel on September 23, 1954 and together had three children. Following the death of Jerry on October 22, 1976. She was united in marriage to Lester Gerber on June 3, 1977 and shared 13 years together before his death on May 17, 1990. Wanda is best known for her work ethic both inside and outside of the home where she worked for the International Shoe Factory, Spartan Manufacturing for fifteen years, Flora Pavilion for six years, and retired as a custodian for the North Clay Unit 25 school district after eight years. Wanda was of Christian faith and always cared for others any chance she could. There was not a blackberry or strawberry patch that she did not find and she enjoyed tending to her own garden and yard work every chance she could. She is best known for the fruits of her labor and blessing others with the best blackberry cobblers and strawberry shortcake you could ever have. She loved going to listen to country music and gospel nights on the weekends and had an avid love for dancing, cooking, and spending time with her entire family.

Wanda is survived by daughters Debra Modlin of Louisville, Patricia (John) Newby of Flora, and one son Richard (Brenda) Eckel of Xenia. Grandchildren Kimberly (Kevin) Haun, Jeremy (Lisa) Clark, Matthew (RaeAnne) Modlin, Deah Jones (Jody Ray), Johnny (Brandii) Newby, Jasmine Charlton (special friend Jeffrey Kastl), Tai (Justin) Landreth, Bri (Curtis) Rodgers. 17 Great Grandchildren, 7 Great Great Grandchildren, one brother Frank (Marge) Hinkle of Louisville, and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents Opal and Pearl Hinkle, husbands Jerry Eckel and Lester Gerber, infant sister Norma Jane Hinkle, brothers Tom, Norman, Jerry, and Cecil Hinkle, grandchildren Barry Jones, Kevin Johnson, and Cindy Jones, son-in-law David Modlin, and sister in laws Ruth and Kay Hinkle.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Wanda will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 16, 2021 at the McGriff & Triplett Funeral Home in Louisville, burial will follow at Crestview Memorial Park, Claremont, Illinois. Visitation will be held on Friday evening at the funeral home where friends may call from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made through the funeral home to the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 80 and the Wabash Baptist Church. Due to health concerns related to COVID-19, it is recommended that you please wear a mask and practice social distancing. To sign the guestbook online or share a memory please visit by clicking here.