Gertrude "Gertie" Frieda Bredeson, age 83 of rural Blanchardville, died unexpectedly early Sunday evening, January 13, 2008 at the Monroe Clinic Hospital. She was born on June 10, 1924 in Winterthur, Switzerland, to Fredrick and Frieda (Steffens) Berger. She came to the US with her mother at age 3. Fredrick died when Gertie was a child, and her mother married his brother, Walter Berger, whom Gertie looked on as a father. She grew up in Milwaukee where she attended grade school and graduated from a trade school. She worked as a bookkeeper for a grocery chain in Milwaukee. She often came to rural Shullsburg to visit her uncle who owned a cheese factory. Vernice Bredeson hauled milk there. A relationship sprung up and they were married on October 21, 1944 in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Blanchardville. After they were married they farmed in the Shullsburg area with Vernice's father and his brother Russell until 1948 when they moved to their current farm in rural Blanchardville. Gertie was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Blanchardville and the Women of the E.L.C.A. She loved spending her time at church quilting, attending service, and was secretary of the women's group for many years. She also was very dedicated to her family. She was an avid collector of Cardinal figurines. Her family really loved her cooking including her Swiss bread and her pies.
Gertie is survived by three children, Richard (Rosemary) Bredeson of Colorado Springs, CO, Gary Bredeson of rural Blanchardville, and Jerry (Marcia) Bredeson of rural Blanchardville; six grandchildren, Mindy (Charles) Kilgore of Annapolis, MD, Andrew (Angela) Bredeson of Van Nuys, CA, James Bredeson of rural Blanchardville, and Jesse and Nicholas Puckett and Alexander Bredeson, all of rural Blanchardville; four great-grandchildren, Kirsten Diehl of Joliet, IL, and Makayla, Cody and Joshua Kilgore, all of Annapolis, MD; two sisters, Ruth Champeau of West Allis, and Hattie Young of Milwaukee; one brother, Fred (Shirley) Berger of Milwaukee; and a sister-in-law, Veronica (Gary) Garrison of Lamont. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Vernice who died on March 25, 2003.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 17, 2008 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Blanchardville. Rev. Mark Gruner, assisted by intern Tim Koester of the Pecatonica Lutheran Parish will officiate. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery in Blanchardville. Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday evening, January 16, 2008 at the Saether Funeral Home in Blanchardville.
Gertie is survived by three children, Richard (Rosemary) Bredeson of Colorado Springs, CO, Gary Bredeson of rural Blanchardville, and Jerry (Marcia) Bredeson of rural Blanchardville; six grandchildren, Mindy (Charles) Kilgore of Annapolis, MD, Andrew (Angela) Bredeson of Van Nuys, CA, James Bredeson of rural Blanchardville, and Jesse and Nicholas Puckett and Alexander Bredeson, all of rural Blanchardville; four great-grandchildren, Kirsten Diehl of Joliet, IL, and Makayla, Cody and Joshua Kilgore, all of Annapolis, MD; two sisters, Ruth Champeau of West Allis, and Hattie Young of Milwaukee; one brother, Fred (Shirley) Berger of Milwaukee; and a sister-in-law, Veronica (Gary) Garrison of Lamont. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Vernice who died on March 25, 2003.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 17, 2008 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Blanchardville. Rev. Mark Gruner, assisted by intern Tim Koester of the Pecatonica Lutheran Parish will officiate. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery in Blanchardville. Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday evening, January 16, 2008 at the Saether Funeral Home in Blanchardville.