Mary Gertrude "Gertie" Schiltz
July 16, 2006

Mary Gertrude Schiltz was born on May 14, 1906 at Whittemore, Iowa, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Fandel) Elbert. She received her education in rural school north of Whittemore with high school at Presentation Academy in Whittemore. She attended Normal Training for three months in Sheldon, earned her teacher's certificate and taught four terms in the rural school near her home.

On April 10, 1929, she married LeRoy N. Schiltz at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Whittemore. After their marriage, they farmed in the Bancroft area for many happy years. Following LeRoy's death on December 4, 1981, Gertrude moved into Bancroft. On March 23, 1998, she entered Heritage Nursing Home and found herself surrounded with love and care. She made many new friends sharing in their joys and sorrows. Gertrude died Sunday, July 16, 2006 at the Heritage Home in Bancroft at the age of 100.

She is survived by her two daughters, Betty Decker and her husband Vernon of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Marjorie Fitzgerald of Bancroft; a daughter-in-law, Jane Schiltz of Davenport, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and 5 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Archie Elbert and his wife Rose of Mankato, MN; two sisters, Dolores Geelan of Ruthven, IA, and Evelyn Wagner of Algona; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, LeRoy; a son, Bill Schiltz; a son-in-law, Gene Fitzgerald; three sisters, Elizabeth (in infancy), Isabel Besch, and Carmel Sweeney; five brothers, Arnold, Irvin, Joe, Clem and Michael Elbert.

Gertrude was a member of St. John's Catholic Church and St. John's Altar Society. She served as Grand Regent of the Catholic Daughters of America of which she was a Charter Member.

Gertie loved the outdoors, especially gardening and her beautiful flowers. In her own words, "most of all enjoyed my husband, children, grandchildren and our many sociable card games". There was no doubt that she took deep joy in her great and great-great-grandchildren as well.

Tributes