Ingrid Gerard Obituary

Gerard
Ingrid Ursula (Nitsch) Gerard
October 5, 1937 February 4, 2018
Ingrid Ursula (Nitsch) Gerard, age 80, passed away peacefully on the morning of February 4, 2018, surrounded by her family and friends. Ingrid was born on October 5, 1937 in Danzig, Germany (now Gdansk, Poland). At the age of 7 at the end of WWII, Ingrid's family had to flee Danzig as the Russians were invading. They became refugees as all Germans from the Eastern Bloc countries were being forced back into what was to become West Germany.
In 1963, Ingrid married Andre Gerard and in 1968, she became an American citizen. She traveled with her husband and 4 children around the world, leading the life of a military wife. In 1979, she lost her only son in a car accident in England, after which she and Andre returned to Colorado Springs to settle down. She resumed working at the Edelweiss Restaurant as head waitress until her retirement in 2000.
Ingrid loved to knit and loved cats, including adopting many cats and caring for a stray cat colony in her back yard. She volunteered at the Colorado Springs Humane Society. Most of all, though, Ingrid loved to tell stories. She was very much beloved for her generosity and her humor and was making jokes until the very end.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Andre Gerard, her 3 daughters, Sigrid "Betsy" Gerard (Helmut Jakoby-Gerard) of Abensberg, Germany, Mary Gerard (Jeff Sherman) of Los Angeles, California, and Tina Stansberry of Lawton, Oklahoma/Colorado Springs, Colorado, her sister Gaby Schmitt (Manfred Schmitt) of Wittlich, Germany, her brother Bodo Nitsch (Andrea Nitsch) of Bernkastle, Germany, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and her lifelong friend, Rosemarie Sims.
A celebration of life will be held on a date to be determined in the near future.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Colorado Springs Humane Society.