Gerda Keane

On Wednesday, July 18, 2018 Gerda H. Keane passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Koenigsberg, E.P., Germany on January 30, 1925 to the late Alfred Wilhelm and Berta Luise Polkehn, Gerda was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She immigrated with her husband Aloisyus Herrmann and their two daughters to Alexandria, Virginia in 1957. They retired to Boca Raton, Florida in 1979. After being widowed, Gerda married Walter A. Keane 1991.  They moved to Naples, Florida in 2000 and she was widowed again in 2001.

Gerda was also preceded in death by her brothers, Erwin and Kurt Polkehn. She is survived by two daughters, Gabrielle H. Williamson of Brussels, Belgium and Eleanor H. Weingartt, and son-in-law- Felipe Weingartt of Naples, Florida.  Also, surviving her are granddaughter Katherine (Weingartt) Arpin and husband Paul and three great-grandchildren, Katie Mee, John Paul, and Philip Joseph Arpin.  In addition, she is also survived by step – daughter Ruth Taylor and three step-grandchildren, Audrey, Bradley, and Jeffrey Hamberger.

Her life, spanning over 93 years, was affected and influenced by many dramatic events, both in Europe and America.  With God’s grace, she experienced and survived these historical times which her grand and great - grandchildren would later study in school. 

As an outstanding foreign language teacher, she was able to reach kindergarten through high school students at schools such as St. Andrews Preparatory School of Boca Raton as well as soldiers and diplomats at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, the Foreign Service Institute, and George Washington University.  She served as a tremendous educational role model.

Loved by her students, she set high goals and standards for herself and those she taught. Gerda’s love for education and her generosity toward helping those in need set examples to all who loved and knew her. Her absence will leave an incredible void in all whose lives she touched.

The Lord is now her shepherd.

Visitation for family and friends will be held Sunday July 29, 2018 from 2 p.m. to 4 pm at the Fuller Funeral Home, 1625 Pine Ridge Rd, Naples 34109

Phone: (239) 592-1611

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday July 30, 2018 2 pm at Saint Agnes Catholic Church, 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, Florida, 34120.     Phone: 239-592-1949

Entombment with Rite of Committal will be at the Boca Raton Cemetery and Mausoleum, on Tuesday July 31, 2018,451 SW 4th Avenue, Boca Raton, Fl. 33432
Phone: (561) 391-5717 or (561) 393-784

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida at 3760 Fowler Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901, or Avow Hospice, Naples, Florida