Gertrude B. Walstad

Gertrude B. “Gert” Walstad, age 99, of Williams Bay, passed away on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 surrounded by her family at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center near Elkhorn, following a brief illness. The former Gertrude Anderson was born on September 13, 1912 in Eden Township to Peter and Clara (Fingerson) Anderson. She was baptized and confirmed at the West Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

She married Albert Walstad on December 9, 1937. The couple were Cheesemakers at the Union Valley and Oak Lawn Cheese Factories. Gert later worked at the Wisconsin School for the Blind and then for 18 years as a C.N.A. at the Walworth County Rest Home. In retirement, she loved making quilts, having tied 280 just in the past year. A devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother, her greatest joy came from the time spent with her family

Gert is survived by her daughter, Muriel (Clarence) Thompson of Williams Bay; four grandchildren, Evelyn (Gary) Starck of Williams Bay; Clarence “Tom” (Jayne) Thompson Jr. of Villa Park, IL; Charles (Linda) Thompson of Delavan and Carl (Diana) Thompson of Delavan; eight great grandchildren, Tara Starck; Katherine (D.J.) Dunsker; Elizabeth Starck; Caroline Starck; Mariel Thompson; Andrew Thompson; Christopher Thompson and Briana Thompson; she was looking forward to her first great great grandchild; a sister-in-law, Dorothy M. Anderson of Dodgeville; two nieces, Linda Larsen and Susan (Les) Bull; a nephew, Sam Anderson as well as other nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Albert on March 13, 1958 and a brother, Glenwood Anderson.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 Noon on Monday, May 21, 2012 at The Otter Creek Lutheran Church near Highland. Pastors Charlene Bennett and Ramona Orton will co-officiate with burial in the Otter Creek Cemetery.

Friends may call at the church on Monday after 10:00.

Memorials to the Otter Creek Lutheran Church would be greatly appreciated.