Geraldine "Gerry"(Bierowski) Bembenek (Grandma B), 89, of Rosholt, WI passed away peacefully at her home with family on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 after a lengthy history of an aortic aneurysm.
There will be a celebration of life service for Gerry Saturday January 28, 2017 at the Plover Funeral Home from 2-5PM.
Gerry was born on August 6, 1927 to Walter Bierowski and Teresa (Tessie) (Ryczek) Bierowski in Milwaukee, WI
She was married to Robert J. Bembenek, Sr. on January 4, 1947 at the Basilica of St. Josephat in Milwaukee and shortly moved to the Plover, WI area. They resided in Plover for most of their lives, moving to the Rosholt area in their later years. Her first years of marriage were lived in a Plover area house with no electricity or running water and was heated with wood.
She is survived by 5 children, 13 grandchildren, 18 great- grandchildren, sisters-in-law Peggy Bierowski and family, Georgia; and Sharon Bierowski and her family, Green Bay, WI.
Gerry was predeceased by her mother, Teresa (Ryczek) Bierowski (1934), brother, Reiner (Ray) Walter Bierowski (1966), grandson Quint Bembenek (1969), Step-mother, Sophie Bierowski, father, Walter Bierowski, husband, Robert J. Bembenek, Sr. (2010), stepbrother Norman Bierowski (2011), stepsister Barbara Tolan (2014), great-granddaughter Elizabeth Gumney (2014).
Gerry was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Her life revolved around her 5 children- Robert, Jr. (Bob) (Elaine), Plover, WI; Rose Ann (Robert) Czerwonka, Shingle Springs, CA; Michael P. (Cheri), Custer, WI; Marilyn (Terry) Lewis, Plover, WI; Steven M. Bembenek, Rosholt, WI.
14 grandchildren- Chad Bembenek, Columbus, WI; Lisa (Bembenek)(Casey) Gumney, Green Bay, WI; Audra (Czerwonka) (Chris) Sterrett , CA; Quint Bembenek (deceased); Becky Czerwonka, CA; Carie Bembenek, Plover, WI; Heather (Czerwonka) (Keith) Giacomo, Idaho; Brian (Jenny) Lewis; Triumph (Bembenek) (Dave) Ainslie, Madison, WI; Kevin (Friend, Sarah Zblewski)Lewis, Stevens Point, WI; Royal (Katie) Bembenek; Alicia (Bembenek)(Jack) Arnal, Maryland; Marla (Lewis)(Dave) Habeck, Stevens Point, WI; Adam (Renata) Lewis. Minnesota, 19 great-grandchildren- Mariah, Tommy, Joseph, Alea, Gracie, Tyler, Gabriel, Kaelin, Paris, Jesse, Paul, Lily, Blake, Molli, Avin, Colton, Violet, Elizabeth (deceased) and Scarlett.
While her grandchildren were growing up, Gerry “babysat” children for working parents. But she did not just babysit, she helped raise them and treated them as family. Gerry, known as Grandma B, was involved with these families throughout the years watching the children grow up, get married and have children of their own.
Grandma B, kept her life very busy going to baptisms, birthdays, school concerts, plays, graduations, marriages, etc. of her family and extended families. She played games, puzzles, colored with all of the children in her life.
Gerry also loved to travel. Steve, her youngest son, caregiver of Gerry and Bob, would drive them to Navy reunion parties throughout the United States, to California visiting their daughter and their families and other family and friends throughout the United States. After husband, Robert, Sr. passed in 2010, Steve continued to take her to the Navy reunions where she had made many friends. They would also visit relation and friends all over the U.S. and come home with numerous stories of family and friends.
Her hobby, besides her family, was her flowers. Anyone who drove past or stopped in to see her were awed by the yard full of plants, trees and flowers. She happily gave a tour of her flowers telling them stories of what they were and how they came to be in the spot they were in. She had an old golf cart that she drove around watering and tending her plants. All the great-grandkids got to ride with her and eventually learned to drive it. In the last 2 years, she was not supposed to bend down, lift heavy items, etc. because of the aneurysm. Steve worked by her side and then later took over the garden work with her watching, keeping the yard of beauty in awesome splendor.
Gerry was a strong, beautiful lady. She spoke her mind saying she had “earned the right to do so.” Not much could get her down. Not a broken hip which she recovered from with grace, using a cane to keep her balance. And definitely not the aneurysm when 4-1/2 years ago was told that surgery was rarely done at her age. Her response was, “I’ve got too many grandbabies to love and play with yet. You are doing the surgery.” She came out of surgery with flying colors and enjoyed herself every day. Her laughter and love were contagious.
Wednesday evenings were usually “open house” for anyone who wanted to come for dinner or just for talking and laughing. She like to “raise the roof” with laughter.
Family and friends will miss birthday and anniversary cards from her. You knew a card in the mail was from her because of all the fun stickers on the envelope and on the card.
This sweet, beautiful and grand lady, our mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother, sister-in-law and aunt is greatly loved and will be truly missed.