Mildred Gertsch Obituary

Mildred Strnad Gertsch was born the 2nd of October 1921 in Chicago to Edward Strnad and Rose (Piha) Strnad. She was the youngest of four children. Eleanor (deceased at a young age), Edward, (deceased 1998) Dorothy, and Mildred. When she was very young, the family moved to Berwyn, IL where she lived and went to school. After high school she studied and became a beautician.

In 1943 Mildred joined the United States Marine Corps (Women's Reserve). Mildred married Everett (Dick) Gertsch in May of 1944. Their first son Richard was born in 1945.

Dick was in the U.S. Army, and the family moved to different army bases including Okinawa, Germany, and Alaska. Their second son John was born in 1952 while stationed in New York. When Dick retired from the army, the family settled in Security, CO where they lived until Mildred moved out to live in a retirement facility. Dick died in 1998.

Mildred worked nights doing food service in School District 3, Security, CO. During the day, she was very active in her church and community. Because of her love of the Lord and her Church, First Baptist of Colorado Springs, she worked with the Women's Ministry, holding several offices and preparing meals for many church functions including the popular Women's Christmas Brunch. She was also very active volunteering, and joined the American Red Cross to work at the OB-GYN clinic in Ft. Carson, CO where she volunteered for 27 years. She later volunteered at Ecumenical Social Ministries. Mildred was also a weekend Docent at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for about 25 years.

Mildred's oldest son Richard was a Mining Engineer who held a PhD. He preceded her in death in 2006. He is survived by his wife Leslie. Mildred is also survived by her son John and his wife Brook.

Mildred was always very close with her brother Edward and sister Dorothy, even though they lived in different states. She enjoyed her sister's family: her son Paul, his wife Delores, and their two sons Mark and Scott.

Mildred enjoyed her brother's four daughters (her nieces): Carol, Dawn, Susan, and Debra and her great nieces and nephews, Karri, Wendy, Rachel, John, Nicole, and Mark.

A Remembrance Service will be held at First Baptist Church in Colorado Springs on Friday, January 23, 2015 from 1 pm to 3 pm.