Mildred G. Gjertson

GJERTSON, MILDRED T. MONONA-Mildred T. Gjertson, age 96, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, at Agrace HospiceCare. She was born on Dec. 10, 1917, in Stoughton, the daughter of Alfred and Margit (Anderson) Thompson. As a child Mildred loved the outdoors and swimming in the Yahara River but also found time for studies, graduating as the valedictorian of the 1935 class of Stoughton High School. She married her high school sweetheart, Chester Gjertson, on July 5, 1942. She attended the UW-Madison and then worked for the Wisconsin State Journal while her husband was away serving in World War II. Mildred and Chet made Madison their home and raised their three children. She assisted as a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader, served as a member of the P.T.A., Dane Co. Dental Auxiliary, Eastside Businessmen’s Association, and Olbrich Botanical Gardens, and also taught Sunday school. Once her children had grown, Mildred worked alongside her husband at his dental office until their retirement. She liked going up to their cabin in Solon Springs, Wis., to fish, swim, hike and pick blueberries. Mildred was a sports enthusiast and loved watching the Brewers, Packers and Badger basketball and football. She and Chet enjoyed many trips to the Black Hills and Minnesota, and came to love the Minnesota landscape. They were also members of the Badger Antique Auto Club and attended many parades. Most of all Mildred was devoted to her family; her children remember her infectious laughter, so loud that Chet would threaten to close the windows so as not to disturb the neighbors. As a grandma she was one of her grandchildren’s biggest fans, supporting them in all of their activities. Mildred is survived by her children, Mary (Rob) Stroud, Richard (Sandy Tanck) Gjertson and Nancy (Chip) Plummer; seven grandchildren, Kristin (Brian) Lee, Ian (Mary Virginia) Stroud, Andrea (Sam Fey) Stroud, Marcie (Josh) Kurtz, Leah Gjertson, Colin (Meg Cancila) Stroud and Daniel Gjertson; five great-grandchildren, Braden and Carson Lee, Atticus Stroud, Parker Kurtz and Sylvie Fey. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Chet in 2009; and siblings, Alfred Thompson and Bertie Van Denmark. A memorial service will be held at MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5202 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 26, 2014, with Rev. Jeff Vanden Heuvel presiding. Inurnment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Olbrich Botanical Gardens or Agrace HospiceCare. The family would like to give a special thank you to the caregivers at BrightStar, Heritage of Monona and Agrace HospiceCare for their compassionate care. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420