Geraldine "Geri" (Kerth) Karklins

Geraldine (Geri) Karklins, 82, of Mesquite, NV, passed away February 25, 2019 at Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, UT. Geri was born on March 9, 1936 in Dayton, OH to Louis John and Florence Marie (Wietlisbach) Kerth. She married Elgin Karklins in Vandalia, OH on October 12, 1963.
Geri graduated from Miamisburg High School in Ohio and went to the University of Arizona to receive her Bachelor’s of Arts in Education in 1958. She started work on her Master’s degree in Education, but decided to teach prior to completing degree requirements. Her first year of teaching was at Paradise Hills Elementary in San Diego, CA. Prior to returning to Dayton, she taught one year in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Due to her love for her parents, she returned to teach at Bear School in Miamisburg, OH in 1961.  During all of her 33 years of teaching, she enjoyed first graders since these children were eager to learn. She utilized phonics to make them all excellent readers. Because of her teaching success, she was recognized as Exemplary Teacher by the school district. However, she felt that her highest achievement in her teaching career was that each year, more parents requested their children to be in her class than the available spaces. Her biggest class was 29 students, and they all became good readers. She appreciated all the hugs from past students whenever they saw her at the local mall. After giving birth to her sons; Greg and Marc, she encouraged them to learn and enjoy outdoor activities. During summers, she went to all of her sons’ baseball games to cheer for them, and one year, it resulted for them to have a perfect season. She was very proud of her two granddaughters, who have turned into beautiful young ladies, as well as straight”A” students at the University of Tennessee. Geri was very loving and caring to everyone that she met, especially all of her students. She loved ballroom dancing and 56 years ago, she met her husband in a dance class. The attraction was there from the start, he was a good dancer, and she was a very attractive lady.
Geri is survived by her husband, her two sons; Gregory in Johnson City, TN, and Marc in Irvine, CA, her brother; William Kerth in Mexico, sister-in-law; Pat Kerth in Dayton, OH, and sister-in-law; Dawn Kerth in Fort Myers, FL, daughter-in-law; Sandy, and the two wonderful granddaughters; Samantha and Christine in Johsnon City, TN.
Viewing Services will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 1:00 -2:00 p.m. at the Virgin Valley Mortuary on 320 E. Old Mill Road, Mesquite, NV, with a Funeral Service to follow at 2:00 p.m. Graveside Services will be held after the Funeral Service in the Mesquite City Cemetery on Hardy Way in Mesquite, NV. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in their Guest book at www.virginvalleymortuary.com.