Hopfensperger, Geraldine Anne

Other Events:

• Education - High School: 1962, Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• Obituary: 11 Apr 2016; APC

Notes:

Education - High School:
Kaukauna High School Class of 1962

Obituary:
On Saturday, April 9, 2016, God gained a special angel. It is with great sadness we announce that Geraldine A (Gerri Hopfensperger) Steger traveled to heaven surrounded by her family after a 2 year courageous battle with lung cancer. Gerri was born on August 6, 1944 in Appleton, Wisconsin, the daughter of Mary Hopfensperger and the late Earl Hopfensperger. Gerri graduated Kaukauna High School in 1962 and on September 16, 1967, she married Jim Steger, the love of her life. She loved to travel and was fortunate enough to travel many times to Europe, the Caribbean and Hawaii. She saw the Panama Canal, Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore, Grand Canyon, and traversed the continental United States. Many wonderful memories were created when she and Jim took the whole family on a trip to Disney. Gerri was also blessed to winter in Arizona for seven years.
Gerri was the kind of wife, mother, nana, sister and friend of which legends are made of. She loved and treasured her family and devoted her life to them. She was simply her family's hero. Gerri was very close to her five grandchildren. She followed their lives with pride and enjoyed watching their high school sporting events. Gerri adored spending time with her family at their Pine Lake cottage in Waupaca.
One of her other great passions was her job at Thilmany, spending 43 years trying to make a difference. After retirement, she even went back for a short time. Gerri volunteered her time and talents for the Red Cross, the Community Center and her church. She was a member of Holy Spirit Church for many years.
Gerri always loved her flower gardens and loved to give tours of them. She loved reading and was proud of her book collection. After retirement, she began playing bridge and met wonderful new friends. She also took up stained glass work. Her finest piece being a Tiffany stained glass lamp shade.
Gerri is survived by: her husband of almost 49 years, Jim; Children: Sheila (Ross) Van Handel and Mickey C Steger (special friend Carrie); Grandchildren: Frank, Claire, Lilli and Luke Van Handel and Mickey J Steger. She is furthered survived by her mother Mary Hopfensperger and brothers and sisters: Jack Hopfensperger, Ralph (Sue) Hopfensperger, Marilyn (Al) Portman, Suzie (Kurt) Weyers and Brothers-in-law Dan Vanevenhoven and Fred (Susie) Steger and numerous nieces and nephews. She was blessed with her special life-long friends Patricia Jansen and Kay Busse. She was preceded in death by her father Earl Hopfensperger, mother and father-in-law Harriet and Donald Steger, sister Martha Vanevenhoven, sisters-in-law Kathy Steger and Lyn Hopfensperger.
A private family funeral will be held. Gerri will be buried next to her dad in the Holy Angels Cemetery. "Back to her roots!"
Gerri will live on in each of us who carry and cherish her legacy of love and kindness.
The family would like express a special thank you to Dr. Guenther and the FVHO staff, Dr. Munson and his staff, and Thedacare Hospice for their compassionate care. We would also like to thank family and friends for their help through this journey.
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent on Apr. 11, 2016

Geraldine married Steger, James H. (son of Steger, Donald L. and Jansen, Harriet) [Group Sheet]