Frank is not listed in the work, "St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Pigeon (linkville) Michigan" compiled by Robert B. LaBelle, September 1998.

Burial here is based upon the funeral information Pastor August Deichmann recorded in the church records of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Pigeon/Linkville, Huron County, Michigan.

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Franz was baptized in Honolulu two days after his birth. His baptismal sponsors were Johanne Pieper and Franz Biehert, Pastor in Honolulu.

Franz, better known to his family as Frank was confirmed by Pastor August Deichmann at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Pigeon/Linkville, Huron County, Michigan on April 7, 1912. "On the 7th of April 1912 I confirmed the following children: Franz Heinrich Gehrke, son of Carl Gehrke and his wife Charlotte, nee Grundemann born on the 17th of April 1898 in Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands and baptized the 19th of April 1898."

Pastor August Deichmann would write summaries of the lives of his parishioners on the occasion of their death and funeral. Through the assistance of compiler's daughter-in-law, Yvonne Bock Stevens and her family and friends, several of these obituaries have been transcribed from the German to English. The translation follows, the reader will note that a few words were not possible to translate to English, and for this we are sorry.

"On September 29, 1919 the undersigned officiated at the burial of Franz Heinrich Gehrke , born April 17, 1898 in Honolulu, Hawaii, son of Carl Gehrke and his wife, Charlotte, nee Grundemann. He was baptized on April 19 of the same year. At the age of 5 years he moved to San Francisco, California with his parents and siblings's .

In the fall of 1911 the family moved here to Michigan, where they have resided since then.

The deceased was confirmed by me on April 7, 1912. In the years following he helped his parents and siblings ...as well as working the farm they were leasing. ..... 2 years.....for some time in Detroit until he had to give up his job as trolley conductor due to poor health. He was suffering from consumption (Tuberculosis) which progressed slowly but surely.

After long and painful suffering he was, finally, relived of his pain and was able to go to his heavenly home.

Survivors were his parents, 4 brothers, 2 sisters and one stepbrother as well as other relatives and friends. He had lived for 21 years, 5 months and 9 days. May he rest in peace. August Deichmann."

A obituary appeared in the Friday, October 3rd, 1919 issue of "The Pigeon Progress" newspaper of Pigeon, Huron County, Michigan as follows:

"Frank Henry Sherke (note this wonderful spelling!!) Was born April 17th, 1998 (well, the typesetter was obviously having a Murphy's Law day!! Ouch!) At Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands as son of Charles Scherke (yep, another and different spelling!) and his wife Charlotte Grindermann. In 1903 he came with the family to San Francisco, Cal. where they resided about eight years. In 1911 the family came to Michigan and lived here ever since on different places near Owendale working beets and doing farm work on rented farms. Two years ago Frank went to Detroit where he was employed as street car conductor but could not hold his position on account of poor health. He came home sick last winter and had been suffering from consumption ever since. He died last Friday night at the home of the family near Gagetown. He is survived by his parents, four brothers, two sisters and a stepbrother and other relatives.

His age was 21 years, 5 months and nine days. The funeral was held from the home and at the church at Linkville were conducted by Rev. A. Deichmann last Monday afternoon. The remains were laid to rest in the cemetery of the Ev. Luth. St. Paul's church."