Obit: Walkowiak, Geraldine (Jerri) (1929 - 2013)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Adams, Carafi, Dettmering, Diethman, Doege, Edblom, Fritz, Keller, Kobs, Leahy, Meyers, Palmerton, Thomsen, Walkowiak

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, WI) 08/28/2013

Walkowiak, Geraldine “Jerri” (Keller) (3 JAN 1929 - 21 AUG 2013)

Geraldine (Jerri) (Keller) Walkowiak, 83, passed away at Villas LaCanada Assisted Living in Tucson, Ariz., on August 21, 2013.

Geraldine was born Jan. 3, 1929, to Ambrose (Jake) and Frieda (Fritz) Doege Keller. She attended Clovernook and Colby High School.

She married Alfred Edblom in Sept. 1949 and later divorced. They had one son, Rodney Edblom.

She then married Elroy Diethman in July 1961. After he got out of the military they moved to Arizona to work. He passed away in March 1993. Geraldine had many jobs during her lifetime, such as farming and working in a shoe factory in Marshfield. While in Arizona she drove school bus, managed a small grocery store, cut meat at a food market, worked at a gas station, and helped at a moving business they were partners in.

Geraldine married Jerry Walkowiak in July 2002. They lived in the country near Sierra Vista and enjoyed working with their homing pigeons. Jerry died Dec. 26, 2006. She then moved to Sierra Vista.

She is survived by her son, Rodney (Angela) Edblom; grandchildren, Shannon Palmerton, Sara (Aaron) Meyers, Justin Edblom, Jessica (Chad) Thomsen, Brittney Carafi; 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Eileen Keller and Joan Dettmering; and special friend, Jim Adams.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Marcella Leahy; her two husbands; and brothers-in-law, Phil Leahy, John Dettmering; and Roger Kobs.

A private burial will be held at a later date. Maurina Schilling Funeral Home will be assisting the family. Interment will be in Dorchester Memorial Cemetery.