MADISON - Gertrude J. “Trudy” Blochowiak passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at St. Mary’s Care Center with her loving daughter, Debbie at her side. She was born on June 1, 1926, in Turtle Lake, Wis., and left us at the age of 97.

Trudy was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Ann (Ritschie) Peetz; husband, Joseph J. Blochowiak; beloved, daughter, Bonnie Lou; sister, Marie (Norman) Forness; brothers, Bernard (Marie) Peetz; half-brother, Charles Marske; niece, Betty Nelson; and very special sister-in-law and friend, Pat Blochowiak. She is survived by her loving daughter, Debbie (Fred) Loomis; loving nieces and nephews; and countless friends. She had special relationships with her godchildren, Jim Blochowiak (as well as his wife, Ping), and Lisa Short (deceased); nieces, Linda Mikolainis and Adele Roohana; and nephew, George (Lil) Roohana. If I forgot anyone, I apologize but you know who you are and how much you meant to her!

Trudy loved to laugh (often till she cried) and loved to spend time with her family and friends. Although she never had the opportunity to go to college, she "sure knew lots of stuff" as nephew, George, so aptly put it! She attended a one room schoolhouse (with her only other classmate being Rose Noonan) until high school in Gilman, Wis.

Although she loved growing up on the farm, brother, Bernard, teased her that he knew she was destined to be a "city girl" as she always wore her lipstick, "even when baling hay." She and Della took the bus to Milwaukee shortly after graduating from high school and worked at Allis Chalmers in the secretarial pool. Trudy often said these were some of the happiest and most fun days of her life. She met her husband, Joe, at a dance at the Eagles Club in Milwaukee and they married on Oct. 19, 1946.

Whether she was coffee clutching with Sheila and Mary on Locust Street, bowling with Shirley, volunteering with Carol at St. Gregory the Great in the cafeteria, going for a movie with Pat, having lunch with the "support group" of Orlean, Clara, and Etta, line dancing (and just generally having fun) with special friend, Marlene, and the rest of the gang at Manor Park, or playing cards/scrabble/bingo with the Rosewood Villas bunch and later friends at Brookdale Middleton Stonefield (who made her final years full of love/laughter and good care), she sure knew how to have a good time!

The last three years of her life were made extra special due to the kind and loving caregivers and staff at St. Mary’s Care Center. You will always have a very special place in my heart. Also, a big thank you to the hospice staff who made her last days peaceful and meaningful.

My mom always said the thing she loved most was being a mom! She passed on so many wonderful things to me-my love of reading/music/dancing, learning new things, going out for lunch, chocolate, staying active, and most of all the importance of having some really great girlfriends (the "secret to a good marriage").

We sure will miss you and hope you are sharing a good laugh upstairs with those who left before you and that you've missed so much all these years!

At a later date, Trudy will be laid to rest next to her loving husband, Joseph, and beloved daughter, Bonnie, at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery in Pulaski, Wis. There will be a celebration of close friends and family to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a local Alzheimer's and Dementia cause in Trudy’s memory.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761

Gertrude J. Blochowiak

June 01, 1926 - April 27, 2024

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