Obit: Garbisch, Gertrude L (1900 - 2006)

Contact:  Shari Hahn

Surnames: Garbisch, Sternitzky, Helm, Opelt, Wenck, Plasz, Cain, Bartz, Nowack, Guenther

----Sources: Marshfield News-Herald July 17, 2006

Gertrude L. Garbisch

GRANTON

Gertrude Garbisch, 106, of Granton died Friday, July 14, 2006, at the Memorial Medical Center in Neillsville, Wis.

A memorial service for Gertrude will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 22, 2006, at Zion Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Granton. The Rev. John Trewyn will officiate. Music will be provided by Caroline Helm, organist, and Ronnie Riedel, soloist. Internment will be in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Honorary casket bearers are her grandsons, Stanley, Ralph, Willard and Llew Wenck, David, Kirk and Scott Garbisch, and Brian, Greg and Kevin Opelt.

Memorials may be directed to the Zion Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Granton or the Neillsville Memorial Health and Rehabilitation center.

Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Gertrude's family with arrangements.

Gertrude Lovilla Garbisch was born Feb. 20, 1900, in Lynn, the daughter of Ferdinand and Laura (Sternitzky) Helm. She attended school in the town of Lynn, then did housekeeping for Dr. Hously, and later cleaned for the Brooks family. Gertrude was united in marriage to Arnold Garbisch on June 2, 1920, in Granton. They farmed in the Romadka area for 12 years until the Depression, then moved to Fall Creek for a short time before returning to Granton in 1933. After Arnold's death, Gertrude continued living in Granton. On March 1, 2006, she moved from her home in Granton to the Memorial Health and Rehabilitation Center in Neillsville at the age of 106.

She enjoyed doing crafts, crocheting, making quilts, sewing, playing cards and cooking.

Gertrude was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Granton. She was a charter member of the Lutheran Ladies Aid and a member of the Happy Homemakers and the kitchen band of Romadka.

She is survived by three children, Lorraine Wenck of Granton, Erlin (Desiree Plasz) Garbisch of Slinger and Joyce (Richard Cain) Opelt of Marshfield; daughters-in-law, Marge Garbisch of Granton and Angela Garbisch of Neillsville; 18 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Arnold; two sons, Leland Garbisch and Marvin Garbisch; three brothers, Carl, Henry and Louis Helm; and four sisters, Bertha Garbisch, Elda Bartz, Ardina Nowack and Anita Guenther.

Stairway to Paradise

Inspired by the beauty

That each day tends to give

We set out on a journey

To find how best to live.

We walk by faith and not by sight

As step-by-step we climb

Upon this stairway, upward,

towards Heaven's paradise.

The steps are sometimes difficult

but each day made complete

By treasured moments that we share

And a promised place of peace.

Finally our steps ascend

Beyond the veil of life

Destiny unfolds in glory

In Heaven's paradise.