Geraldine Marie Sternitzke, 92, was born January 26, 1932 in Norway, Iowa to John Adam and Mary Ann (Schroeder) Schulte. She passed away on August 9, 2024 surrounded by her loving family. She was preceded in death by the love of her life Donald Lee Sternitzke after 59 years of marriage and by her sister Madonna and brother Francis. She is survived by her son Kent (BG) and daughters Mary Ellen (Cheyenne, Wyoming) and Tera (Hinsdale, Illinois), by her grandchildren Kendra, Erin, Corey and Noah Shamley (WY) and Anna, Matthew and William Mazure (IL), and one great granddaughter Fox Shamley (WY).
Geri attended St. Michael’s Catholic grade school in Norway, IA and graduated from Norway High School in 1949 before earning an Associate’s degree in elementary education at Mount Mercy College (IA). After teaching at a country school for two years, she taught for four years at Van Horne and Vinton, IA. She then earned a BA in Education from the Univ. of Iowa where she met her husband who was the instructor for her economics class. They were married on Sept 12, 1959. Their first two years of marriage were spent in Chicago, where Geri worked for Scott Foresman Publishing. After Don earned his Ph.D. in economics from the Univ. of Iowa, they moved to Tucson, AZ where Don taught economics at the Univ. of Arizona. In 1967 they moved to Bowling Green where Don taught at BGSU. Geri earned her MS degree in Library Science at BGSU before working as an elementary school librarian for 12 years in the Otsego School District.
Geri served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused, neglected and dependent children. She also volunteered as a hospice worker and as a reading instructor for children at the Bethany House. Her outstanding cooking skills were put to use for many years as she and Don made huge quantities of highly-prized brownies for a local soup kitchen.
Geri and Don spent their retirement years making quilts, taking care of their grandchildren, gourmet dining with friends, playing euchre, and traveling through Europe, the Holy Land, and all 50 states. They were active members of St John 23 Catholic Church in Perrysburg. Geri also loved watching Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball, eating chocolate, knitting, studying the Bible with her friends at church, and watching her beloved finches visit her feeder.
Friends are invited to visitation on Sunday, August 18, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Dunn Funeral Home, 408 W. Wooster Street in Bowling Green. A scripture service will be held Sunday at the funeral home at 3:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St John XXIII Catholic Church, 24250 N Dixie Highway, Perrysburg. Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Bowling Green.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Bethany House, a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, that provides safe, long-term and transitional shelter for victims of domestic violence. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.dunnfuneralhome.com. Geri’s family thanks the staff at Wood Haven Health Care and Bridge Hospice for the dedication they showed in caring for her.
