Obit: Simonson, Geraldine M. (1919 – 2009)

Contact: Dolores

Surnames: Simonson, Halvorson, Olson, Bergemann, Hammond, Stetzer, Thum, Swirczek, Ahles-Iverson, Hayden, Winsor

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI) June 24, 2009

Simonson, Geraldine M. (11 November 1919 – 20 June 2009)

Geraldine M. Simonson, 89, of Onalaska and formerly of Taylor died Saturday, June 20, 2009, at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.

Geraldine was born Nov. 11, 1919, in Springfield Township, Jackson County, to parents Alfred and Olga (Halverson) Olson.  She married Omer H. Simonson June 7, 1939, in Viroqua, and the couple farmed in Springfield Township for many years.

She was employed at the Gambles Department Store in Black River Falls for 15 years and provided foster care for mentally challenged adults in a group home in rural Taylor for five years.

Omer preceded her in death March 14, 1982. Following his death, she moved to Taylor and then spent 10 years in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

In September of 1988, Geraldine married Harley Bergemann in Arizona.  Harley died in 1991 and the following year Geraldine moved to Sparta, where she lived for several years.  She then lived with her daughter in Rothschild for six years and for the last two years she lived at Spring Brook Assisted Living in Onalaska.

Geraldine was very active in church and family activities. She served as president of the Upper Beaver Creek Lutheran Church WELCA and also taught Sunday school. She was very proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed spending time in family-oriented activities.  She always looked forward to the annual Simonson family reunion in Taylor. Geraldine was blessed with a very sharp memory that enabled her to remember details such as birthdays and events from the past.

Geraldine’s favorite hobbies included reading, watching game shows, making Lefse and playing cards and dominoes.  For eight years, she participated in the Relay for Life Cancer fundraiser in Wausau.

She is survived by three sons, Gaylord (Sandra) Simonson of Onalaska, LeRoy (Fran) Simonson of Black River Falls, and Ray (Barb) Simonson of Waukesha; two daughters, Marie (Kenneth) Hammond of Melrose and Sue (Darrell) Stetzer of Ringle; daughter-in-law, Sandra Simonson-Thum of Rib Lake; two sisters, Inez Swirczek of Bellingham, WA, and Helen (Bob) Bergemann of Phoenix, AZ; 20 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren; besides other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husbands, Omer and Harley, she was preceded in death by her sons, Glenn and Gary, and by her grandson, Roger Simonson. 

Funeral services for Geraldine M. Simonson will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 27, 2009, at the Taylor Lutheran Church with Reverend Benjamin Ahles-Iverson officiating.  Burial will take place in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home, Hixton Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday one hour prior to services at the church.

Casketbearers will be Earl Hammond, Jim Hayden, Mark Simonson, Robert Simonson, Simon Stetzer and Walter Winsor.