FOWLER - Geraldine Lorraine "Gerri" Roark, age 78, died Thursday afternoon, September 3, 2009, at the Fowler Nursing Home, Fowler, Kansas.

She was born December 8, 1930, at Bridgeport, Connecticut, the daughter of David and Muriel (Rogers) Kline. As a young girl, she attended school in Bridgeport, graduating from high school in 1949. Upon her graduation, she attended nurses training in Norwalk, Connecticut, graduating in 1952 with her nursing degree.

In 1953, she married Alvin Bartezko. She later married Jess Roark, in November, 1975. During her working years, she was employed in various hospitals as a nurse. Her special area of nursing was attending the pediatric patients.

In November, 2008, she moved to Fowler, Kansas.

She is survived by:
Her husband, Jess Roark of Fowler, Kansas

Two sons, Alvin Bartezko, Jr. of Fowler, Kansas
Mark Bartezko of Edgar, Wisconsin

A daughter, Debbie Mantzey of Fowler, Kansas

Three stepchildren, Jackie Stewart, Pam Morris, and Jonathan Roark
A brother, Robert Kline of South Carolina

A sister, Eunice Tesoriero of Queen Creek, Arizona

Four grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; step-grandchildren; and step-great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 9, 2009, at the Fowler Nursing Home, Fowler, with the Reverend Dick Robbins presiding. Cremation has taken place. Inurnment will be at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the Hospice of the Prairie, the Fowler Nursing Home, or the Fowler Fire Department in care of Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade.