Gerri M. DiMaggio

DiMaggio, Gerri M. MCFARLAND-Gerri M. DiMaggio, age 65, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 31, 2015. She was born in Baraboo, on Dec. 16, 1949, to Stanley and Marie (Baier) Stapelman. After a short time in Sauk City, Gerri, her mother, Marie and her two twin brothers, Keith and Kenneth Grauvogl, moved to the Lake St. area in Madison. Gerri's love of sports came from her brothers who were very talented softball and baseball players. She attended St. Joseph's Catholic School in the old Greenbush neighborhood where she made many friends. Gerri especially talked about her favorite, Sister Bonaventure. In the summers she would return to Sauk City and stay with her mother's family and those days were special to her. Cousins Sandy, Dennis, and others provided her with great childhood memories. Her aunts and uncles were special too. Pat, Norbert and others made her feel special and she would often talk about those days in Sauk and on the farm. Gerri then went to Central High School in downtown Madison and moved to a home near Vilas Park where she spent many days playing with friends and visiting the animals she loved in Vilas Park. It was when she was 16 that she met the love of her life, the man she would marry and spend the next 50 years with. Joe DiMaggio lived just around the corner with his mother and father and what would become his 13 brothers and sisters. Joe and Gerri became fast friends and when Gerri's mother passed away when Gerri was 17, she inherited nine sisters and four more brothers. Joe and Gerri were married by Monsignor Bier at Immaculate Heart of Mary on April 19, 1975. She often said she wanted to get married again, and have the same reception at the Cottage Grove Rod and Gun Club because it was one of the best days of her life. Their honeymoon would have to wait as they went house hunting and bought an 80 acre farmette in Doylestown. Gerri would continue her love of animal's there by having chickens, turkey, a lamb and dogs. Her love of animals would continue throughout her life. Outliving her dogs in particular was heartbreaking for her. Moochie, Blackie, Racqua and Meatball all predeceased her. She left behind her companion, Browser who misses her visits to Kwik Trip in the morning for a fresh sausage, and she would tell the girls at Kwik Trip if the sausage wasn't fresh! Gerri worked at Oscar Mayer for 14 years where she made many friends, Linda, Jolynn, Debbie and Donna, that were just a few. It was there that Gerri got her adventurous spirit. Florida or Hawaii or just a road trip with the girls put a gleam in her eye. She and Joe would go on to visit Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, and Nicaragua in Central America. They also visited many of the Caribbean Islands as well as several trips to Mexico. She was special in that their trips were rarely to the typical resorts. Joe would do some online research; buy plane tickets and maybe an initial stay for a night or two, then it was rent a car or truck and travel the country. Snorkeling, hiking and cave tubing were all the things she enjoyed. Her last visit was to be Paris, a trip she would never get to take. Gerri took a second job when the children were all in school. She worked for a company that transported the elderly and the developmentally disabled. Oh how she loved to take the ladies on a trip to visit a special place or just to the grocery store. Gerri became close friends with many, but her real love was for those she called "her kids", these were the adults with Downs Syndrome. Some were in their 40's and 50's but she called them her kids. Many worked at the MARC Center and when special days were coming like Halloween, she would dress up and decorate her van just for her kids ride. They loved old rock 'n' roll music and she would have them laughing and singing all the way to their destination. Gerri was married in 1975 and had her first child, Tony in 1977. Tony was special to her and resembles her in so many ways, quiet at times until he knows you, but fun loving when he does. He also resembles her twin brothers whom she loved so much. In 1980, she had a daughter, Angela, another girl who would become her friend for life. Angie was her companion, someone Gerri could share private thoughts with. Angie and her friends were great companions for Gerri. But more importantly, Angela gave Gerri the next love of her life, a grandson, Hilario (Eli) Josiah Pena. It was like starting all over for her and someone she could spoil and love like no other grandmother could. Gerri stopped working to be home with the kids, and their home in McFarland became a place for all the neighborhood friends to come. Trips to the Dells or just to the park often required their van. Family was so important, probably due to the loss of her mother at a young age. Gerri made her family her friends, whether it was the neighborhood kids or Joe's large family, she always had her door open. Pool parties, camping trips, Christmas and other holidays all were very special to her and she loved to have a lot of people around. Gerri's heart was huge and she gave to all those around her. We are sure that God will have a special place for her. Gerri, be with Angels and be with your mother, who you missed dearly. We love and miss you. Our joys will be greater Our love will be deeper Our lives will be fuller Because we shared your moment Gerri is survived by her husband, Joe; son, Tony (partner Yvonne Sims); daughter Angela (Florencio) Pena, grandson, Hilario (Eli) Pena; brother, Kenneth (Paulette) Grauvogl and Keith (Ruth) Grauvogl; and with many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at HOLY MOTHER OF CONSOLATION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 651 N. Main St, Oregon, at 11 a.m., on Saturday, June 6, 2015, with Father Gary Wankerl presiding. Visitation will be at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Saturday. A reception will follow at the church. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420