Mathilda Gastrow

SAUK PRAIRIE/LODI-Mathilda E. Gastrow, age 90, passed away peacefully on Sept. 13, 2011 at Sauk County Health Care Center in Reedsburg. She was born in Spring Green on Oct. 4, 1920, the daughter of John and Anna (Yanker) Pronold. Raised on a family farm in Wyoming Township, Mathilda was the third youngest of eight children. Even though her teen years coincided with the Great Depression, she often recalled how happy she was, taking care of various animals and writing a journal and poetry. She graduated from Spring Green High School (which later became River Valley) in 1938. After performing much volunteer work for the war effort, Mathilda married Raymond Gastrow on Sept. 28, 1949; they lived over 50 years together on his family's farm in rural Lodi. Like so many other farm wives, she did work both inside and out, year round. During the last 30 years, Mathilda had been a survivor of breast cancer and later had struggled with dementia. Still, she maintained a vigorous sense of humor. Both her stories and jokes often brought laughter to many. Mathilda was a long-time member of St. Aloysius Parish of Sauk City. She had been also a member and later a supporter of 4-H. Mathilda is preceded in death by her husband Raymond; she is survived by a daughter, Marilyn; a son, Larry; another son, Donald (Diane), and a grandson, Carl. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 521 Fair Street, Lodi at 11:00 AM on Thursday, September 22, 2011, with Father Francisco Higuera presiding. Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Lodi. Visitation will be on Thursday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service at the church.