Genevieve Korte

1928 - 2026

Genevieve ("Geny") Lucille Korte, age 97 of Vandalia, Ohio passed away Saturday morning on March 28, 2026 at the Stonespring Nursing Home in Vandalia. She was born in Pandora, Ohio on July 9, 1928, the daughter of Orlin and Kathryn (Garber) Schumacher. She was a member of St. Christopher Catholic Church, Vandalia. Geny grew up on a small farm on Jefferson Street in Pandora, Ohio. Even as a young child, she had a great love of music and would play her accordion for the cows and teach piano to the chickens. She enjoyed teaching music her entire life.

When Geny was 13 years old, she attended a youth Christian event at the St. John Mennonite Church in Pandora, where she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord. She would often tell us that the Lord was her friend and that she would always try to do what God would tell her. She enjoyed reading through the entire Bible, our love letter from our Savior God.

Geny was a church pianist and organist in Dayton and Vandalia for over 30 years. She had a college degree in Music at the University of Dayton, which took 7 years to complete while she worked as supervisor at the university's mailroom. She also completed graduate studies in piano performance and technique at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, and Wright State University in Dayton Ohio. After graduation, she taught music in elementary school in the state of Virginia, and later at the Dayton Public schools and the Dayton Christian School in Ohio. She also played clarinet in several musical groups such as the Virginia Symphonic Orchestra, and the Dayton Post Office Letter Carrier Band. The love of her life was teaching piano, which she did for decades until the month before her 97th birthday. In 2023, Geny received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dayton Music Club during its September Musicale.

Geny loved competition and would often have her piano students compete in district contests. When she was a young girl, she played the accordion for 30 minutes on a weekly radio program in Putnam County, Ohio. She told us that she had never practiced the accordion so much as she did during that time! As a child, she loved to enter music contests and would often win first place playing the accordion. After getting married, starting a family, and later moving to Vandalia, Ohio, Geny began teaching piano and accordion. One of her favorite memories was starting a children's accordion band called "The Kortionaires" (a play on the words "Korte" and "accordion"). A highlight was the Kortionaires performing during a Vandalia Air Show Parade with 12 excited children wearing black pants, white shirts, and captain caps, playing accordions on a parade wagon!

Geny married Urban H. Korte on August 6, 1949 in Columbus Grove, Ohio, and had nine children. She is survived by her son James (Cindy) Korte; daughters Maria Korte, Sister Mary Catherine S.J.W. (Betty Korte), Esther (Dave) Judson, Janet Hill, Carol (Bob) Bowman, and Susan Carter. Grandchildren include Jennifer (Trent) Speaks, Matthew (Amber) Korte, Rebekah (Joseph) Ralidak, Chantele (Steve) Dow, Michelle (Tim) Sharp, David (Mindi) Judson, Jason (Brooke) Webb, Morgan (Kyle) Martin, Morgan Carter, and Brittney Carter; plus numerous great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Urban in 2007, two sons Robert Korte and Edward "Eddie" Korte, her sisters Marcella Schumacher and Henrietta Schumacher, and a son-in-law Bruce Hill.

The viewing and Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 11:30 a.m. (viewing 10:30 a.m.), at St. Christopher Catholic Church in Vandalia, Ohio, located at the intersections of I-75 and National Road at 435 E. National Rd, with Father Chibueze officiating. Afterward, burial service at the Zerkle Funeral Home and Cemetery at 11900 N. Dixie Dr., Tipp City, Ohio. Condolences may be sent to the family through the Zerkle Funeral Home online guestbook.