Geraldine C. Brenner

BRENNER, Geraldine C. “Gerry”

Geraldine C. “Gerry” Brenner, 92, of La Crosse, Wis., died Wednesday, January 1, 2014, at The Sterling House surrounded by her family. She was born in La Crosse, Wis., on Sept. 3, 1921, to Henry and Gertrude (Helvig) Kessel. She married Robert C. Brenner on August 30, 1941 in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, La Crosse, Wis.

Gerry graduated from Aquinas High School Class of 1938. She was the secretary for Hill and Valley Garden Club. Gerry loved the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, playing cards and was a member of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish. She worked at St. Francis Hospital from 1973, until her retirement in 1984. Gerry was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. As Gerry said frequently, “God has truly blessed me with a lot of good friends and a loving family”.

She is survived by her children; James (Kathie) Brenner of Sparks, Nevada, Mary Lee (Lawrence) Bott of Stoddard, Wis., John (Jan) Brenner of Casa Grande, Arizona and Julie (Dan) Horstman of La Crosse, Wis., eight grandchildren; Jeff (Julie) Brenner of So. St. Paul, Minn., Cheryl Brenner of St. Paul, Minn., Gary (Jodie Bakalars) Brenner of La Crosse, Wis., Amy (Mike) Smalley of Burnsville, Minn., Nicole (Todd) Skoglund of Arnolds Park, Iowa, Jodi (Cameron) Reider of La Crescent, Minn., Abby (Kyle) Abernathy of Madison, Wis., and Jamie Zarembinky., six great-grandchildren; Candyce Brenner, Mikayla, Samantha Erica and Robert Joseph “RJ” Smalley, and Jolie Abernathy, and a former daughter-in-law Florence Brenner of La Crosse, Wis. She is further survived by a sister-in-law Irene Boren of Piper City, Ill., and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert C. on March 22, 2001, her parents, and one brother Richard Kessel.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, January 10, 2014, in Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, 2006 Weston, St., La Crosse, Wis. Rev. Douglas Robertson will officiate with burial to be held at a later date in Woodlawn Cemetery, La Crosse, Wis. Family and friends may call from 9:00 AM until the time of Mass in the Church on Friday.

The Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

The family wishes to thank the Staff at the Sterling House for the wonderful care, and friendships Gerry made there.

Memorials are preferred to The Place of Grace, La Crosse Warming Center at First Baptist Church in La Crosse, Wis., or the local Food Pantry of your choice.