1919 - 2016
1919
2016
Geraldine "Gerry" S. Nierengarten-Johnson
St. Cloud
Dec. 25, 1919 - Oct. 5, 2016
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30AM Monday, October 10, 2016 at St. Mary's Cathedral for Geraldine "Gerry" Johnson, age 96 of St. Cloud who died Wednesday. Rev. Doug Liebsch will officiate and burial will be in Assumption Cemetery. Friends and family may call from 8:30AM-10:30AM Monday at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home, St. Cloud.
Geraldine was born to Edmund and Helen (Konz) Schnettler in Hartington, Nebraska. She moved with her family to St. Cloud where she grew up and attended school. In high school, she was proud to be a part of the Cathedral High School Drum Corps. She later went to work for the National Tea Company where she started as a grocery checker and went on to help with bookkeeping. During WWII she helped manage stores in northern Minnesota during the summer.
Geraldine married Durward Nierengarten on July 27, 1949 at St. Mary's Cathedral Church. She and Dur raised three children. Dur grew the P.X. Liquor Store and she flourished as a wife and mother. After Durward's death, she married Wallace Johnson who immediately embraced the family. Geraldine was a lifelong member of St. Mary's Cathedral Church. She volunteered at the church, grade school, Meals on Wheels and she was a blood donor donating well over five gallons. Geraldine loved mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, skating, skiing and going on pontoon rides. Gerry's greatest joys were spending time outdoors and being with her family.
Geraldine is survived by her children, Karen (Tom) Van Hale of Duluth, Mary Kay (Al) Bachel of New Prague and Kurt (Laurie) Nierengarten of Eagan; step-children, Pat Peterson, Barb (Steve) Bjorklund, Merri Otto-Weis and Brad (Mary Dean)Johnson; grandchildren, Amber VanHale, Rachel VanHale, Katie (Mike) Olerich, Alvin (Meghan) Bachel, Brett, Chad and Camille Nierengarten; great-grandchildren, Aspen Olerich, Cali Bachel and Brooke Bachel and many beloved step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sister, Helen Schnettler of St. Cloud and brother, Ed Schnettler of St. Cloud.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Dur Nierengarten (July 20, 1985) and Wally Johnson (October 8, 1999); siblings, Marianne Schlicker, Margaret McKeon, Loyola Hockert, Jack Schnettler, Devota Aigner, Dona Wilmes, Carol Allen and Irene Billig.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Williams Dingmann Funeral Homes - St. Cloud.
2 Entries
Gerry and Durward were so kind to me, taking me skiing in the winter with Kurt and Kay, fishing in Canada, partying at Hay lake. She always had so much energy and laughter. I am blessed with so many fond memories of her and her family. My heartfelt sympathy at this time of loss.
Gregory Poganski
October 11, 2016
Sorry to read of Gerry's death. We are in Seattle so are not able to attend her funeral. On occasion we would see her at noon Mass at the Cathedral after we moved here 4 yrs. ago.
We will have Masses offered for her at St. Benedict's Chapel.
Bob & Bernice Kuhn Braun. (I'm Angie Schnettler Kuhn's daughter. Angie was aunt to Gerry)
Bernice Braun
October 9, 2016
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