Gertrud "Trudy" Kaegler
Gertrud "Trudy" Kaegler
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Gertrud Kaegler Obituary
Visit the Church & Chapel Funeral Home - Brookfield website to view the full obituary.
GERTRUD "TRUDY" E. KAEGLER,
Died December 14, 2025 in Brookfield, WI
She was born August 21, 1935 in Ruppertshütten, Germany to Maria Wenzel. During the late 1950s, Trudy met Ray Kaegler while he was serving in the U.S. Army. They fell in love, and Trudy immigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The couple married on October 29, 1960, and shared sixty years together until Ray's passing on February 19, 2021.
Trudy's greatest joy was her family. She was the loving wife of Ray and mother to Donald (the late Susan) of Bolingbrook, IL, Yvonne (Rick) VandeSand of Waukesha and Erika of Milwaukee. She was Oma to Kristin (Micah) Luster and their daughters Myla and Emersyn, and Stefani (Reed) Styza and Erin (Evan) Braatz,
She is further survived by her sister Inge Riedmann, Lohr Germany and stepbrothers Karl and Willi Büdel, Germany, as well as many other relatives residing in Germany and United States.
She worked various jobs to support her family. Beyond her work life, Trudy found fulfillment in her cultural heritage. She was a proud member of the DANK German Heritage organization for 40 yrs and sang with the DANK folk choir -a role she cherished deeply. Trudy also volunteered for many years at Milwaukee's German Fest, until health concerns made it too challenging.
Baking was Trudy's favorite hobby, and her kitchen was always filled with the scents of homemade treats. One fond memory was the time she lovingly baked her daughter Yvonne's wedding cake, a testament to the care she poured into everything she made. Trudy's face would light up whenever her great-granddaughters visited, and she delighted in making sure everyone around knew just how special those moments were.
She enjoyed watching game shows and cooking programs, as well as tackling crosswords and Sudoku Puzzles in her spare time as well as gardening. Trudy also loved animals, as she worked on a farm in her early years, but cats were her favorite as the family grew up with a few over the years.
She was preceded in death by husband Ray, infant daughter Lori Ann, and daughter-in-law Susan.
A special danke to Erika and Yvonne for the care and support given to Trudy over the last few years. Also, to all at Care-Age of Brookfield and Badger Hospice, and Senior Helpers for the care provided for Trudy.
A visitation for Trudy is scheduled for Saturday, January 3, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Church and Chapel Funeral Home, located at 1875 N. Calhoun Rd., Brookfield, WI.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The American Diabetes Foundation or The Wisconsin Humane Society.
Church & Chapel Funeral Service Serving the Family
Milw. 262-827-0659 Wauk. 262-549-0659
Online Obit, Condolences, Directions
www.churchandchapel.com
Died December 14, 2025 in Brookfield, WI
She was born August 21, 1935 in Ruppertshütten, Germany to Maria Wenzel. During the late 1950s, Trudy met Ray Kaegler while he was serving in the U.S. Army. They fell in love, and Trudy immigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The couple married on October 29, 1960, and shared sixty years together until Ray's passing on February 19, 2021.
Trudy's greatest joy was her family. She was the loving wife of Ray and mother to Donald (the late Susan) of Bolingbrook, IL, Yvonne (Rick) VandeSand of Waukesha and Erika of Milwaukee. She was Oma to Kristin (Micah) Luster and their daughters Myla and Emersyn, and Stefani (Reed) Styza and Erin (Evan) Braatz,
She is further survived by her sister Inge Riedmann, Lohr Germany and stepbrothers Karl and Willi Büdel, Germany, as well as many other relatives residing in Germany and United States.
She worked various jobs to support her family. Beyond her work life, Trudy found fulfillment in her cultural heritage. She was a proud member of the DANK German Heritage organization for 40 yrs and sang with the DANK folk choir -a role she cherished deeply. Trudy also volunteered for many years at Milwaukee's German Fest, until health concerns made it too challenging.
Baking was Trudy's favorite hobby, and her kitchen was always filled with the scents of homemade treats. One fond memory was the time she lovingly baked her daughter Yvonne's wedding cake, a testament to the care she poured into everything she made. Trudy's face would light up whenever her great-granddaughters visited, and she delighted in making sure everyone around knew just how special those moments were.
She enjoyed watching game shows and cooking programs, as well as tackling crosswords and Sudoku Puzzles in her spare time as well as gardening. Trudy also loved animals, as she worked on a farm in her early years, but cats were her favorite as the family grew up with a few over the years.
She was preceded in death by husband Ray, infant daughter Lori Ann, and daughter-in-law Susan.
A special danke to Erika and Yvonne for the care and support given to Trudy over the last few years. Also, to all at Care-Age of Brookfield and Badger Hospice, and Senior Helpers for the care provided for Trudy.
A visitation for Trudy is scheduled for Saturday, January 3, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Church and Chapel Funeral Home, located at 1875 N. Calhoun Rd., Brookfield, WI.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The American Diabetes Foundation or The Wisconsin Humane Society.
Church & Chapel Funeral Service Serving the Family
Milw. 262-827-0659 Wauk. 262-549-0659
Online Obit, Condolences, Directions
www.churchandchapel.com
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