Georgia Rose Smieja

WAUNAKEE-Georgia Rose (Pulvermacher) Smieja, age 87, of Waunakee, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 at Home Again Assisted Living. She was born on Oct. 23, 1931 in Milwaukee, the daughter of Anton and Helen (Zins) Pulvermacher. Growing up on a rural farm in Merrimac, WI, Georgia attended a one-room school house, helped with chores on the farm, and loved taking Hawaiian-style slide guitar lessons. She graduated from Sauk City High School in 1949 and moved to Madison where she worked as an assistant to UW Professor Robert E. Gard. As a creative, independent woman just starting her secretarial career she was soon accomplished and highly regarded by Gard, a renowned author, visionary, and founder of the Wisconsin Idea Theatre. In Madison she met her future husband, Ralph Smieja, at Turner Dance Hall in 1951. As the story goes -- it was the last song of the evening when “Art” asked her to dance. Afterwards he walked her home to a nearby flat on E. Gorham St. From the window Georgia watched him walk down the street as it started to rain and told her roommate, “I’m going to marry that man some day.” Upon his return from the Army, Ralph and Georgia married on January 7, 1956, at St. Aloysius in Sauk City. Though it was the last dance of the night at Turner Hall...it was a dance that lasted for the rest of her life. After raising their four children, she earned an associate degree at Madison Area Technical College, became an interior designer and started her own business. Georgia was happiest when she was decorating a room, taking on a remodeling project, or building a new home. She also helped manage Ralph’s CPA practice in Monona. While living in Monona she was a member of Lake Edge Lutheran and President of the St. Anne's Society at Immaculate Heart of Mary. After moving to Windsor, Georgia joined Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church and was a Worship Assistant and a member of the choir. Upon retirement Georgia turned to volunteering and attended classes through the Madison Literacy Council. She loved tutoring Phonics, language and reading to those in need. Her lifelong hobbies included drawing, calligraphy, travel, skiing, dancing, gardening, playing piano and tending to her roses. She valued her many friendships, both new and old. She enjoyed her book club, her “bridge club ladies” and was enviably talented at hosting parties and gatherings with style and grace. The Christmas holiday was a favorite time and for many years Georgia placed a uniquely themed Christmas tree in every room of the house! She knew how to light up a room with her smile…and she will be missed. Georgia is survived by her husband, Ralph Smieja; son, Mike (Kris) Smieja; daughters, Sheri (Ron) Jackson, Jennifer (Mark Gustafson) Smieja and Sue (Kevin) Clark; grandsons, Aaron Clark, Jerry Smieja, Stephen (Anney) Smieja and Cole Jackson; and granddaughters, Jody Bacon, Taylor Jackson and Calli Jackson. She is further survived by half-siblings Joyce (Treinen) Radtke of Grafton and Raymond Reuter. She was preceded in death by her parents. A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 2 p.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Private burial will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association –Wisconsin Chapter https://www.alz.org/wi or Madison Cat Project https://www.madisoncatproject.org/ . Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420