Geraldine L. “Gerry” Thomas, 88, of Kenosha passed away on Saturday, August 30, 2008 at home with her family by her side.
Born in Kenosha on July 18, 1920, the second child of the late William D. and Martha L. (Langenbach) Wilberg. She was educated in local schools, graduating from Kenosha High School in January, 1939.
On January 12, 1951, she married George J. “Corky” Thomas in Madison, Wisconsin. He preceded her in death on December 17, 1992.
Gerry worked for Dr. Vern Pedersen, at J.C. Penney, the Wisconsin Job Service and State of Wisconsin Civil Service Testing. She was a member of St. Mary’s Lutheran Church. She was Past President of Sweet Adelines; Past President, Past Secretary and lifetime member of the Kenosha Bradford Alumni Association, working on many of the class reunions. In 1964, she, Dick Ellison, Jerry Pfarr and Phil Sander published the first Kenosha Bradford Alumni Newsletter, that is still being issued each spring and fall. She was a member of the “600” Bowling Club; St. Mary’s Friendly Center; Senior Center; Kenosha Senior Council; Kenosha Historical Society; AARP; Friends of Kenosha Museum; and the card club at Tuscan Villa.
She is survived by her daughter, Karen (Jim) Tillman of Canton, MI and her son, George J. “Skip” (Stephanie) Thomas, II of Pleasant Prairie. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Heidi (Steve) DeVries of Kenosha and Christopher (Debbie) Shepard of Highwood, IL; five great-grandsons: Andrew, Aaron and Alex DeVries and Danny and Drew Shepard; and her sisters-in-law, Marilyn Wilberg of West Bend, WI; Elizabeth “Betty” Wilberg of Western Springs, IL; and Jackie Wilberg of Ballwin, MO.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Earl D., Richard W., Gene W. and William R.
A celebration of her life will be held at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 2:00PM. Inurnment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Mary’s Lutheran Church or Kenosha Hospice Alliance would be appreciated.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Bandealy and his staff and Kenosha Hospice Alliance, especially Julie and Doreen, for their kindness and compassion.