Obit: Gerger, Iris Marie (1923 - 2017)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Gerger, Hollingsworth, Grimm, Downing, Robertson, Onley, Hummel, Crotty, Minnich, Edelson, Berg

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 7/12/2017

Gerger, Iris Marie (13 April 1923 – 29 June 2017)

Iris Marie (nee Downing) passed away June 29, 2017, surrounded by her beloved children at the age of 94 at the Care and Rehab-Neillsville. Iris was born April 13, 1923, in Danille, IL. She was the daughter of the late Rena Hollingsworth (nee Grimm) and Evart Downing.

Iris moved to Chicago in 1946. Throughout her life, she was a very hard worker. She worked as a waitress at the elegant Drake Hotel where she learned Silver Service and the Edgewater Beach Hotel, both in Chicago. Besides being a waitress, she hosted banquets, was an inspector at Ecko/Alcoa, earned gemologist certificate while working at fine jewelry shops and finally, until the age 86, worked in the gift shop Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, IL.

Iris is survived by her two sisters Ruth Robertson of Eau Claire, and Joyce Hollingsworth of Ridgefarm, IL, and the children she loved so dearly: Dale Wayne Onley (Wanda) of Worden, IL; Carolyn Kay Hummel (Richard) of Ridgefarm, IL; Kristina Marie Crotty (William) of Ingleside, IL; John Joseph Gerger (Denise) of Cottonwood, AZ; Tammy Sue Minnich (Ed) of Grayslake, IL; Becky Ann Edelson-Berg (Tony) of Neillsville. She was so very proud of her grandchildren. Her finest legacy consisted of 20 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren (the numbers are still growing).

The last several years of her life she suffered from dementia. However, she never forgot her childhood, where she came from, and most of all her family. Her family was everything to her. While she resided in Wisconsin, she enjoyed interacting and participating (always with a smile) in activities at Care and Rehab-Neillsville, going for car rides to look at all the beautiful trees, and scenery and spending time watching the Black River with her family and friends.

There will be a memorial service held at the Vermillion Grove Friends Church in Vermillion Grove, IL, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017, at 1 p.m., presided by her sister Joyce Hollingsworth. A mass will be held at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Mundelein, IL, Sat. Aug. 26, 2017. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. with a funeral mass and luncheon to follow. Her final memorial service will be held at the United Church of Christ in Neillsville, Saturday Oct. 7, 2017, with visitation from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a service and luncheon. Iris’ interment will be with the fall color changes that she loved so much at Trout Run Cemetery in Black River Falls.

Memorial gifts can be made to Care and Rehab-Neillsville, 316 Sunset Place, Neillsville, WI 54456.