VERA M. GANO, 76, of Cherokee, Iowa passed away Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa after battling a 4 year courageous battle with cancer.


Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at First Church of Christ in Cherokee. Pastor Tom Lewis will officiate. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. at the church on Saturday. Burial will be in the St. Mary's Cemetery at Remsen, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 14th from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. with the family present from 6-8 p.m. at Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com


Vera was born on July 16, 1935 in Remsen, Iowa to Alphonse & Erma (Thiel) Pick. She graduated from high school at Union Consolidated in LeMars, Iowa in 1953. Vera was married to Harold Berding in 1953. They operated an insurance agency in Hospers, Iowa. He died in 1971. She then married her present husband Laverne (Gus) Gano in 1975 at Cherokee, Iowa. She worked at the Hallmark Store in LeMars, Spurgeons and the Payless Shoe Store in Cherokee. Vera had child care in her home for over 30 years for many wonderful children and families. She was a member of the First Church of Christ in Cherokee and the Cherokee Fire Dolls. She enjoyed being with people and her many friends in card clubs including: pinochle, euchre & 500, bingo on Tuesday nights, tea socials, fishing and spending time with family.


She was preceded in death by her parents, 3 brothers Glenn, Jerald & Joseph Pick and one sister Ruth Rhodes.


Vera is survived by her loving husband Laverne; her children: Rick (Carla) Berding of South Sioux City, Nebraska; Deb (Chuck) Erickson of Cherokee, Iowa; Dave (Tami) Berding of Pflugerville, Texas; Mark (Erica) Berding of Cherokee, Iowa; Cory (Allison) Gano of El Paso, Texas; Dan (Linda) Gano of Spirit Lake, Iowa; Kim (Greg) Travlos of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; 15 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; two brothers and one sister: Dan (Carol Jean) Pick; Cliff (Nancy) Pick; Doris (Don) Kolker.


The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Mercy Medical Center where Vera spent the last nine weeks of her life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to June E. Nylen Cancer Center, 230 Nebraska St., Sioux City, Iowa 51101.