Funeral services for Peggy Jane (O’Neal) Gherke of Peoria, Ariz., will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at the First Lutheran Church of Albert Lea. The Rev. Dan Baker will officiate. Visitation will be held Friday from 4-8 p.m. at the Bonnerup Funeral Service Chapel, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery, Albert Lea.

Services for Peggy were held in Peoria, Ariz., on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the Heritage Funeral Home.

Mrs. Gherke died Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, at her home in Peoria. She was 63 years of age.

Peggy was born May 28, 1940, in Albert Lea, the daughter of Leo E. and Bernice (Gilbertson) O’Neal. She was baptized and confirmed at the First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Peggy attended elementary school in Faribault and graduated from high school in 1958 from Albert Lea. She went on to complete her medical technology degree in Minneapolis, and then attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Peggy was employed as a dental assistant in Fairfield, Iowa, for many years, and then as an oral surgery assistant with the VA hospital in Minneapolis. She was currently working as an oral surgery assistant and office manager at Arizona Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Ltd. in Sun City, Ariz.

Peggy’s first love was her husband Roger, her sons and her family. She was so dedicated to her profession and patients. Peggy never met a stranger. She was so looking forward to her 45th high school reunion coming up this fall in Albert Lea. We will miss her fun spirit and her laughter. She was truly loved by her whole family.

Peggy is survived by her husband, Roger Gherke of Peoria, Ariz.; children: Michael Fisher of Fairfield, Iowa, and Bradley Fisher of Peoria, Ariz.; and one granddaughter, Sidney Fisher of Fairfield, Iowa. Also surviving is one sister, Beverly Connly of Burnsville and her fiance Phil Olson of Bloomington; and brothers: Michael O’Neal and wife Judy of Cherokee, Iowa, Craig O’Neal and wife Ann of Eden Prairie, Minn., and Brian O’Neal of Nevada, Iowa. There are five nieces and three nephews who loved her dearly.

Peggy was preceded in death by her brother in law, Rollin Connly; grandparents, uncles and aunts.