Gertrude C. Alfuth

Gertrude Cecilia Alfuth

Early Friday morning April 22, 2022, Gertrude Cecilia Alfuth passed away at the age of 97!  Gertrude, also known as Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, Great-Great-Grandma, Auntie Gert, Gertie, and even Gamblin' Gertie, lived a full life.  Thanks to her support team she was able to live in her own house until the last month of her life—an accomplishment that was very important to her.

She was born Gertrude Cecilia Milanowski on November 10, 1924 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.  On July 18, 1942 she wed Joseph Alfuth at Saint Peter's Catholic Church in Stevens Point.  Together they had seven children.  Gertrude was an unbelievable wife and mother—she enjoyed cooking Polish dishes such as perogis, placki ziemniaczane, rosol, czarnina, as well as fantastic pies, cakes, and cookies, and of course her ground bologna spread and making grasshoppers at holidays.  It was always a treat to eat the pieces of leftover pie crusts that she would make on Saturday mornings.

Gertrude was also a talented barber, cutting and styling hair not only for her children and husband, but also for her brothers and sisters, neighbors, nieces, nephews, and many others!  She went through numerous clippers throughout her life.  Often her boys would get "buzz cuts" for the summer.  Sure, made it nice and cool….

Gertrude loved to sew.  She made quilts, clothes for her children, doll clothes, and could fix rips or holes in anything!  Sometimes she would use patterns, but often she would just create on her own.  It gave her great joy to see someone wearing the clothes she made.

Gertrude also enjoyed gardening, not only vegetables but also flowers.  She gave many a rabbit a fight for those veggies in the back yard.  She canned and preserved the produce, including great pickles.

She also loved to play cards and was known to frequent the slot machines at the casino every now and then.  On a family camping trip to South Dakota she was nicknamed "Gamblin' Gertie" by her sons because she won all the money playing 21. She also loved to play Yahtzee and cards.

Nothing made Gertrude happier than to have someone stop by to visit and spend time with her, particularly after her husband passed away.  Thanks to all of the neighbors and relatives who continually thought of her and made her feel loved.

In the latter months of her life, she appreciated the visits from care-giver Sally Trainer.  The family would also like to thank the people from Heartland Hospice and Whispering Pines Assisted Living in Plover for helping with her final days.  Thanks also to the fabulous nurses on the 5 ^th floor and in the emergency room of Aspirus Hospital in Stevens Point, Mary Oesterreich, Kay Shawbitz, and the entire palliative medicine team, and of course the attending physicians during her stay there, Dr. Romeo Barakeh and Dr. Krzysztof Rus.

Gertrude was preceded in death by her father Joseph  Milanowski, mother Mary Ann Milanowski (Buza), her husband Joseph Edward Alfuth, her infant son Joseph Allen Alfuth, her grandson Joseph Jerome Alfuth, and siblings Peter, Ben, Bertha, Irene, Jean and Eddie.

Gertrude is survived by her beloved family; Pat (Jim) Abbrederis of Stevens Point, Terry (Bonnie) Alfuth of Florida, Barb (Peter) Bentzen of Park Ridge, Jerome Alfuth of Stevens Point, Dan (Linda) Alfuth of Scandinavia, and Mark (Diana) Alfuth of Spring Valley, 10 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, 7 great great grandchildren, sister Agnes Turzinski of Stevens Point, brother Johnny (Lorraine) Milanowski of Brookfield, and many other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity of your choice in memory of Gertrude.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Gertrude will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday April 29, 2022, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church 2151 Stanley Street Stevens Point. Rev. Steve Brice will officiate. Burial will follow in the Guardian Angel Cemetery. Visitation on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until time of service AT THE CHURCH. Pisarski Funeral Homes are honored to be serving the family. For online condolences please visit www.pisarskifuneralhome.com