Full Obituary

     GERALDINE E. "GERRIE" FLORENCE, age 89, of Abbotsford, formerly of Loyal, passed away on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at Golden Living Center - Continental Manor, in Abbotsford.  Funeral services will be held at 11am on Monday, February 1, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Loyal.  Rev. Daniel Zimmerman will officiate and burial will follow at the Sherwood Cemetery, in the Town of Sherwood.  Visitation will be held at the church, on Monday, from 10am until time of service.
     Geraldine Elaine Gehrke was born on May 4, 1926 in Clintonville, WI, to Alfred and Esther (Schwantes) Gehrke.  She attended parochial elementary school in Clintonville and two years at Clintonville High School.   Her family moved to Marshfield in 1942, where she graduated from Marshfield High School in 1944.  After high school, Gerrie worked in Washington DC during WWII, and then returned to Marshfield and was employed at Roddis Manufacturing.  She was united in marriage to Charles B. "Charlie" Florence on August 6, 1949 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Marshfield.  They bought a farm in the Town of Sherwood, where they farmed until buying a farm near Loyal.  They farmed in Loyal until 1970, at which time they sold the farm and moved into Loyal.  Gerrie also worked at PCA, the TRG, and Gorsegner Law Office in Loyal.
     She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, loved her dogs and enjoyed traveling.
     Gerrie is survived by her son:  Ken C. Bennett of Dallas, TX;  one sister-in-law:  Betty Dimler of Fremont;  nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
     She was preceded in death by her parents;  her husband, Charlie, on April 11, 2008; and two sisters:  Dorothy Buttke and Gloria Florence.