MADISON - Gertrude “Trudy” Pieterick passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Madison, after a struggle with recurrent brain cancer.

Trudy was born May 26, 1948, in La Crosse to Elizabeth “Betty” and Ray Pieterick. The family moved to Eau Claire shortly afterward. Betty and Ray owned and operated Ray’s Place in Eau Claire. Trudy grew up above the tavern with her parents and seven younger siblings.

She attended local schools, graduating from Regis High School in 1966. Trudy was a hard worker from an early age, helping out in the family’s tavern and caring for the younger children.

Trudy was a sensitive, intelligent person, with a love of the arts. As a youngster, she studied piano and dance. She played the pipe organ at St. Patrick’s Church and saxophone in the Regis High School band. After high school she attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and then, UW-Madison where she was active in theater productions and first became interested in mime. She soon traveled to France to study mime with Marcel Marceau. That began a lifelong love of French language and culture. While Trudy had never studied French before she arrived in France, she quickly picked up the language “on the street.”

Trudy studied with Marceau for one year until the school closed while Marceau went on a world tour. Despite the school closure, Trudy was determined to spend more time in France. She initially survived by working as an “au pair.” She was also buoyed by a loan from her former Madison employer, Roy McCormick (Porta Bella Restaurant). Attesting to her grit and determination, she fully repaid the loan with interest.

When she saw an ad for a bilingual secretary at IBM France, Trudy applied for the position. She bluffed her way through the interview about the secretarial aspects of the job and was hired. At IBM, she met Elizabeth Ghaffarzadeh, who remained a lifelong friend. Trudy later worked for IBM in New York, arranging travel in the U.S. for IBM executives on assignment.

She eventually returned to Madison to continue her study of French language and culture at the University. She also resumed work at the Porta Bella where she met a Madison attorney, Anthony “Tony” Theodore. They eventually married and were together for 48 years. Tony and Trudy were long-time residents of the Orchard Ridge neighborhood in Madison before moving to Vista West.

After graduating with a B.A. in French, Trudy taught French at DeForest Middle School, remaining there for 24 years. Trudy put her heart and soul into educating her students. She established a robust French program at DeForest, which instilled in many students a love and appreciation of the language and culture. Although she did not perform mime professionally, Trudy incorporated many of its techniques into teaching. She also brought in photographic slides and mementos from her frequent visits back to France, where she traveled and rekindled friendships from her earlier life there.

Trudy not only moved elegantly (a quality that Marceau remarked on) but also did things beautifully, with wonderful taste and care. Her cooking, gardening, card making, and home were works of art, to be enjoyed by her family and friends. She was devoted to her sisters and brothers and their children, as well as to her husband.

Trudy was predeceased by her parents, and is survived by her husband, Tony Theodore; sisters, Sue Johnson (Tom) of Eau Claire and Cindy Pieterick of Guayaquil, Ecuador; brothers, Charlie (Marcie Rubardt) of Vashon, Washington, Jeff (Lisa Brooks) of Oshkosh, Ed (Wence Kvam) of Corvallis, Ore., Stan (Sue Boyea) of Eau Claire, and Dave (Sandy O’Connell) of Eau Claire; and 17 nieces and nephews. She is also survived by many close friends, including Joy Eriksen and Nancy O’Neal.

Trudy appreciated the excellent care she received from her doctors and the UW Hospital staffs, the Agrace Hospice Care staff, and Patient Care Partners.

A memorial gathering will be held in the Community Room of Vista West, 150 Bella Vista Drive, Madison, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. An observance in Eau Claire is being planned for later in the spring; the information will be posted on the Gunderson website.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Doctors Without Borders, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, or the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Fitchburg

Funeral & Cremation Care

2950 Chapel Valley Road

(608) 442-5002

Gertrude A Pieterick

May 26, 1948 - December 20, 2023

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