Amanda J. Gerdes, 52, of Columbia City and formerly of Fort Wayne, passed June 2, 2019 surrounded by her loving family at home. Amanda was a kind and gentle soul, loving wife, sister, and daughter with a funny wit. Amanda was an avid gardener and cook, who loved to spend her time with family and animals.  Amanda was also a proponent for Indiana working families and member of Teamsters Local 414 for 32 years.  A pioneer in the Woman's labor movement, Amanda was the first woman to hold a fulltime Grocery warehouse bid at SuperValu, and the second woman to hold a fulltime rail loading bid at Auto Handling, Inc.

Amanda is survived by her husband, Ehren Gerdes; father, Richard Cook; sister, Jill Cook-Lane; mother-in-Law, Sally Gerdes; and her in laws, George and Lisa Gerdes.

Amanda was preceded in death by her mother and step father, Susan and Loren Cook-Sheetz.

We welcome all to Amanda's graveside service at 10 a.m., Monday June 10, 2019 at Covington Memorial Gardens.  She will be laid to rest with her parents.

Memorial donations can be made to the Humane Society, or the American Cancer Society.