MONROE — Gertrude (Rufener) Voegeli knows a thing or two, because she’s seen a thing or two. Now 103-years-young, Gertrude was born in Sylvester Township on Christmas Eve in 1919.
She grew up in a home without running water or electricity, toughed it out during the Great Depression, raised six children, and has many more grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. She was alive during World War II and the moon landing. She witnessed technological history as homes across the world began getting electricity installed, followed by radios and televisions, to eventually the internet. Now, while the entirety of the world’s information is quite literally at her fingertips, it’s the little things that keep her smiling. For instance, on Tuesdays, she enjoys taking a trip across the Green County countryside in a UTV, eating breakfast with family at Sherrell Jean’s Diner in South Wayne, and getting butter pecan ice cream across the road.
“That’s a must,” Gertrude said of the ice cream.
She loves riding under the leaves in the trees on the Cheese Country Trail, seeing the vegetation grow and eventual change of colors in the fall.
“We’re so proud of her. She’s an amazing woman,” said Robert Voegeli, 82 of Brodhead. He’s Gertrude’s eldest son and he brings her to South Wayne each week in his Ranger UTV.
She still lives in her own home of 66 years, caring for herself. Her family visits with her often.
“The best part is I get to live in my own home, and my son lives a block or two away,” Gertrude said. “Life is good.”
She has strong Swiss roots as well. Her parents were both from Switzerland. Early in the 20th century, they made Green County their home.
“My mother and dad, they knew each other in Switzerland. Dad came over and made enough money (in America), then he came over and got my mother,” she said.
Gertrude had nine siblings. Only three survive, and her brother turns 100 this month. Gertrude graduated from Monroe High School in 1937, and later married Raymond Voegeli. Raymond died in 1988, “too early,” she said.
She and her husband had five boys and a daughter. Those children have since went on to have children of their own, and then two more generations have sprouted.
Gertrude worked for a short time at the hospital in Monroe, and spent another “31 seasons” at Swiss Colony.
She remembers when the original Turner Hall in Monroe burned down, when the current middle school was the high school, and the Palm Sunday tornado that hit the town in 1965.
“We had no warning. Our door opened up and it was locked — that’s how we knew something was happening,” Gertrude said.
She’s also witnessed the growth of Monroe’s west side from farmland into the industrial and commercial hub that remains today.
“She’s had a full life,” said Beth Wilde, a close family friend.
Raymond worked for the city and the pair farmed, which didn’t leave a lot of time for travel. Instead, they opted to go camping at Yellowstone State Park in an Airstream camper.
The families still get together often, with barbeque’s or cookouts. Gertrude still loves to play cards, and is still able to get out and socialize each week.
