Obit: Schemmer, Gertrude D. (1889 – 1973)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Schemmer, Goessling

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 05 Apr 1973

Schemmer, Gertrude D. (25 Jan 1889 – 26 Mar 1973)

Funeral services were held Thursday, March 29, 1973 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Colby, for Mrs. Gertrude D. Schemmer, who died on March 26, 1973 after a short illness, of congestive heart failure while on an extended visit at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John K. Schemmer of Pawling, New York.

Burial was in the family plot at Chilton, Wisconsin.

Gertrude Dorothy Goessling was born January 25, 1889, in Chilton. She attended the local public school in Chilton and later was graduated from the Milwaukee State Teachers College.

Prior to her marriage in 1914 to Anthony L. Schemmer, who preceded her in death in 1951, she taught in the public school system of Milwaukee. From the time of her marriage to Dr. Schemmer until her death she was a resident of Colby.

Until a few years prior to her death Mrs. Schemmer was active in community affairs. In 1920 she organized the first Parent-Teachers Association for the Colby High School, and served as its first president. Thereafter, in 1922, she organized the first Parent-Teachers Associations in Abbotsford and Curtiss.

She was one of the first Chief Rangers of the Colby Court of the Women’s’ Catholic Order of Foresters. In 1943 she organized the Junior Court of Foresters, and in 1953 she organized the St. Bernadette Court of Women’s Catholic Order of Foresters in Abbotsford. Mrs. Schemmer was also an active member of the Royal Neighbors in Colby.

In 1947, Mrs. Schemmer helped to organize the Blue Sky Garden Club in Colby, and served as its first secretary, and sh elater served as president of the Club from 1957 to 1960. In 1961 and in 1963 she organized the garden clubs in Stratford and Medford.

From 1961 to 1962, she was District Director of the Fox River Valley garden clubs, and served as the District Membership Chairman from 1963 to 1967. Mrs. Schemmer was appointed by the Governor of Wisconsin to the Committee to Keep Wisconsin Beautiful in 1958, and served on the Committee until 1969, at which time she was chairman of the Fourth District.

From 1952 to 1962 Mrs. Schemmer was a member of the Board for the La Crosse Diocese of the National Catholic Council of Women.

She is survived by her son, John K. Schemer, her grandson, John Anthony Schemmer, M.D., and a number of cousins, nephews, nieces and grand-nephews and grand-nieces.