Geraldine Ruth Gerken

Geraldine Ruth Gerken, nee Brost, age 97, of Baraboo, WI, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2019 at Our House Assisted Living, surrounded by her loved ones. We would like to thank Our House staff for their loving, tender care during her stay there. They were wonderful to her, and she was happy there.Geri was born on September 30, 1921 in Green Bay, WI to Lambert and Anna Brost. The family moved to Babcock, WI shortly afterward, where she spent her childhood. At 17, she married Leonard William Carl Haferman and they had 5 children. They divorced in 1960, and on September 5, 1962 she married Howard Wilbur Gerken of Elroy, WI. They were married for 49 years, until Howard's death on November 30, 2011.For many years, Geri worked as a waitress for several different supper clubs, and later as a hostess for The Goal Post in Middleton, WI. She loved doing crossword puzzles and sudoku, playing cards (especially Smear), looking through magazines, listening to music, going out for lunch or dinner, dancing, and travelling. She was a great cook, and loved hosting wonderful dinners with family and friends. She made the best soup EVER! She took great pleasure in social gatherings with family and friends. She was a huge inspiration to all who loved her, when she battled breast cancer at 82, had a double mastectomy, and endured radiation and chemotherapy. She never complained, and was so brave throughout that journey. We were so proud of her, and she remained cancer free for the rest of her life.Geri was preceded in death by her parents, Lambert and Anna Brost, brothers Leland, Allen, and Arnold, and a sister Florence Heller, her son Leonard Allen Haferman and a granddaughter Melissa Haferman. She is survived by her sisters Madeline Stensberg, Laverne Denis, and brother William (Gail) Brost, daughters Nancy (James) Higgins, Linda (Richard) Jenks, Candace (Roger) Gruman and son, Timothy Haferman, her step daughter Dawn Gerken, grandchildren Mark Larson, Kris (Gerry) Rich, Scott (Renee) Larson, and David (Milena) Larson, Laura Carpenter, Misty Steffen, Pamela (Aaron) Fuchs, Steven Higgins, Jeff (Nanette) Higgins, Cody Haferman, William (Anllelina) Haferman, 18 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren, and her best friend for over 55 years, Florence Huebing.In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in her honor may be sent to Our Savior Lutheran Church at 1120 Draper St., Baraboo, WI 53913, or to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 10611 Hwy. 13 South, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494.A celebration of life and memorial service will be held at a later date in the summer of 2019 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494.