Gerry Raifsnider

Geraldine “Gerry” Adele Raifsnider was a capable, considerate woman who adapted to changes in life that only made her stronger. From city to farm life, she took hold of what needed to be done and put the interests of others before her own. Gerry was devoted to her family and made life beautiful for them and many others who had the privilege of knowing her.

Geraldine was born during a decade of economic turmoil at home and political unrest in Europe. American families worked to make a life for their children amid the hardships of the Great Depression. In Chicago, Illinois, Joseph and Harriet (Kubiak) Zieler were one of many families who met the challenges of their time with six children to rear, Geraldine being the oldest. At about the same time that her family moved to a farm in Constantine, Michigan, young Gerry left school to help take care of her younger brothers, Norbert and Ronald, and sisters, Dorothy, Marcella and Lorraine. From an early age, Gerry learned the value of hard work and family loyalty.

Having been born in a large city, Gerry took to farm life well and made that her life’s commitment when she met Clifford Raifsnider. Mutual friends introduced them, but after that, love took over. The happy couple married on May 17, 1952 and, over the years, they experienced a unique joy in bringing up six daughters: Mary, Connie, Jacque, Donna, Diane, Karen. The family settled on a farm in Scotts, and Cliff supported them through farming and operating the service station he owned. When the girls were older, Gerry went back to school and earned the high school diploma she had set aside years earlier when she sacrificed for her parents and siblings.

Gerry was a dedicated wife, mother and homemaker on the farm. By example, she taught the girls to garden and keep chickens. They canned all their own vegetables, and green-thumb Gerry also had a way with flowers. Both she and Cliff were involved with horses, and Gerry was particularly involved with the girls’ barrel racing ventures. She was very active in 4-H and, with her good friend Betty Williams, she judged the cooking, sewing and craft entries. Gerry was somewhat of an expert, because she herself was a crafter—embroidering with a fancy sewing machine, stitching clothes, knitting baby sweaters and quilting. If she had any spare time left in a day, Gerry read or bowled in a league of her friends.

When her health began to fail, Gerry’s family stayed close by. A few days prior to her death, she told her daughter Mary, “Don’t let that frog loose in the house.” As always, she was thinking of her home and family. With her daughters by her side, Gerry died on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at her home on the farm, which she and her husband had settled into so many years before.

Geraldine “Gerry” Adele Raifsnider was preceded in death by her husband Cliff in 2003, her brother Ronald Zieler and her sister Lorraine Hartzell. She will be missed and fondly remembered by her daughters Mary & Mike Dee, Connie & Ed Sturm, Jacque & Michael Waldron, Donna & Jay Nelson, Diane & Mike Stafford, Karen Van Dyke & William McGruder, her grandchildren Jenny & Walter Nielson, Jeff Dee, Eddie Sturm, Greg Sturm & Tina Kiplinger, Clifford Sturm & Liz Peckham, Jamie Baughman, Erin & Matt Matlock, Travis Baughman, Amanda Waldron, Brad Nelson & Audrey Clemons, Heather Nelson & Jeff Dalman, Melissa & Chad Schrader, Jacob Stafford, Brian Van Dyke & Tia Neeb and Ian Van Dyke, her great-grandchildren Brennan, J.T., Haley, Madison, Alex, Kohl, Noah, Walter V, Riley Sue, Emma, Tessah, Isabella and Storm. Her sisters Dorothy & Lloyd Snyder and Marcella Adams, her brother Norbert (Joan) Zieler as well as many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Visit with her family and friends on Tuesday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Life Story Funeral Home, Vicksburg; 409 S. Main St. (269-649-1697) where a rosary will be said Tuesday at 7:00 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday at 11:00 AM at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, Vicksburg. Please visit Gerry’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read her life story, archive a memory or photo, sign his memory book or make a memorial donation the Borgess VNA Hospice.