Geraldine M. "Gheri" Stiefel

1932 - 2018

Geraldine "Gheri" M. Stiefel

Geraldine "Gheri" M. Stiefel was taken unexpectedly from those who loved her on September 19, 2018 at Flower Hospital. She was making good progress in rehabilitation from a broken hip and was expecting to make a full recovery. Gheri was born in Toledo, OH to Ludwig and Wilma Ehlermann Knak on October 12, 1932. She attended grade school in Toledo. Her parents purchased a dairy farm near East Meredith, NY, and Gheri graduated from Charlotte Valley High School in Delaware County, NY. She then completed a secretarial course at SUNY Delhi, in Delhi, NY and worked at General Electric in Schenectady, NY.

In 1955, she married Gordon P. Stiefel of Oneonta, NY, and they moved to Toledo. They adopted a son, Scott. Gheri attended the University of Toledo and obtained her education degree, plus her master's degree in guidance and counseling. Gheri taught fifth grade before becoming a high school guidance counselor at Whitmer High School. Gheri loved working with students and conducting special sessions for them. She was a positive influence on the lives of her students and retired after 24 years. After retirement, Gheri worked as a gallery guard at the Toledo Museum of Art where she enjoyed interacting with the public.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Gordon; her son Scott; and her brother James L. Knak. She is survived by her loving companion Brian McFarland; grandchildren Dustin and Keri; nieces Geri Knak and Lisa Toomey; grandnieces and nephews; cousins and many friends.

Gheri enjoyed playing cards and golfing. She loved ballroom and country dancing and the company of her friends. She established a foundation to provide scholarships to high school graduates from Delaware County, NY. Memorials may be made to the Ehlermann-Fedderke Descendants Foundation Scholarships c/o Delaware National Bank of Delhi, PO Box 508, 124 Main St., Delhi, NY 13735.

To honor Gheri's wishes, no funeral services were held.