Gertrude "Galloping Gertie" Graf, (nee Hamsing), age 99, of the Cedar Lake Health Care Center in the town of West Bend, passed away on Tuesday, September 13, 2005.
She was born on August 28, 1906, in Merrill, to the late Henry and Bertha (nee Binski) Hamsing. She was united in marriage to Herman Boettcher on October 23, 1926 in her hometown of Merrill. Together they moved to Lansing, MI, and then to Milwaukee. Her husband, Herman, preceded her in death on December 7, 1959. In December of 1964 she married George Graf; he preceded her in death in June of 1979.
In 1943, once her kids were established in school, Gertrude began working for the Milwaukee Public School System in the school cafeteria. She worked for the school system for over 20 years before retiring in 1963. In 1979 she moved to West Bend and became a member of Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church. It was at that time that she began traveling across the country and the world with her friend Triddie "Astrid Pedderson".
She is survived by a daughter, Audrey Biegler of Kewaskum; a daughter-in-law, Connie Boettcher of Jonesboro, GA; eight grandchildren, Jodie (Ken) Chapman, Lynn Gloege, Todd (Debra) Biegler, Kirk (Marta) Biegler, Tracy (Amy) Biegler, Debra (Robert) Lozano, Daniel (Christine) Boettcher, and Dean Boettcher; 22 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, her son, Allen Boettcher, her son-in-law, Bradley Biegler, five sisters, and two brothers.
A memorial service in celebration of Gertrude will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2005 at 5:00 pm at Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service of West Bend. Rev. Jon Bartlett will officiate. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Saturday from 4:00 pm until the time of service.
Memorials to the Cedar Lake Health Care Center would be appreciated.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the caring staff of the Cedar Lake Health Care Center and the Cedar Lake Hospice for the compassion that they always gave Gertrude and her family.