Geraldine R. Leicht

Visitation for Geraldine R. Leicht, 96, of Lake Zurich IL will take place Saturday January 31, 2015 at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 415 S. Buesching Road, Lake Zurich from 10:30a.m. until the Service of Celebration of Life at 11:30a.m.  Internment of the ashes will take place, later, at Hart Cemetery in MI.

Gerry died peacefully after a long and well lived life.  She is survived by four children: Jeff (Carol) of Woodstock IL, Mary Tegtmeier of TX, Cheri Zeman (Mike) of AZ and Greg (Charmaine) of WA.  She had eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; Rob Tegtmeier (Kim) and great granddaughters Mia and Hannah, David Tegtmeier (Keri) and great grandsons Owen and Elliot, Elizabeth (Tegtmeier) Harryman (Trent) and great granddaughters Mackenzie and Sarah, Melissa Kelly (Mike) and great grandchildren Alison Murr, Emily and Luke, and Josh Zeman (Mei) and great grandchildren Adam and Cara.  Also grandchildren, Shannon Leicht, Lauren Leicht, and Andrew Leicht.  Gerry was preceded in death by loving husband Willard (Bill) in 1975 and her beloved sister Genevieve Russell in 2006.

Gerry was born April 4, 1918 in New Era, MI on the Russell homestead just down the hill from Trinity Lutheran Church, also known as Pioneer Orchards.  She grew up harvesting fruit in the summers.  She attended Bradyville Grade School, a one room schoolhouse, through the 8th grade, where she was one of her mother’s students.  As was the custom, she boarded in town while attending high school since there were no school buses, traveling home for weekends only.  Beginning her career at the tender age of 17, she taught in several one room schoolhouses, then worked for the War Department, was a legal secretary to a city attorney.  She was a member of seven professional organizations, a graduate of Western Michigan University.  She earned her Master’s Degree at Purdue University in 1969.  Filled with determination, she was able to continue her education while employed, in addition to raising four small children.

A 25 year resident of Lake Zurich and a 24 year resident of Barrington, Gerry advocated on behalf of children and their families as a teacher and a school guidance counselor for Dist. 96 from 1966 until 1985.  After retiring, she sold real estate and contributed her time to community service organizations.  Her greatest joys came from visiting family, traveling, and enjoying nature and wildlife outside her windows (at her home that Jeff built).  An avid reader of many newspapers, it was important to her to keep up with current and political events.  She held achievement in high regard and balanced that with compassion for the less fortunate, being strongly influenced by the Depression and the Great War that marked her generation.  She readily shared her opinions and was always willing to consider the thoughts of others.  Gerry baked a delicious pie, many dozens of Christmas cookies, refinished furniture, served as Den Mother and Campfire Girls’ leader, sewed, and greatly appreciated the wood craftsmanship of her husband Willard.  Gerry strove to continue the legacy of maintaining strong family ties across generations.  She was a strong family presence as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, cousin, grandmother and great grandmother.  She will be greatly missed.