Gertrude 'Gertie' F. Berthelsen

Mrs. Gertrude F. Berthelsen (nee: Fitzgibbons), 93, passed away at her home on March 18, 2011.

Gertie was born in Sheboygan Falls to the late Mr. and Mrs. John Fitzgibbons on January 3, 1918. She lived in Racine most of her life. On March 1, 1941, she was united in marriage to Gilbert Berthelsen who preceded her in death on November 20, 1999.

During her life, Mrs. Berthelsen was employed by J.C. Penney Co. as the manager of its fabrics department. She was also very active in her husband’s life. Her husband was Racine County’s first County Administrator and Racine County’s first County Executive. She was a wonderful mother deeply loved by her children. She was accepting and supportive of her children and very proud of them. She was a particularly kind person who put the interest of others before her own. She enjoyed art, mystery novels, and crafts.

She will be dearly missed by her children, Gilbert J. (Santa) Berthelsen of Racine, Cheryl A. (Helmut) Schmidtke of Kenosha and Richard A. (Sandy) Berthelsen of Clifton, VA; ten grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends. She was also preceded in death by one son, Keith R. Berthelsen.

A visitation will be held at the Wilson Funeral Home on Monday evening, March 21, 2011, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The funeral ceremony will be private for the family. Interment will be held at West Lawn Memorial Park. Memorials may be directed to Lincoln Lutheran – Bay Pointe at the Atrium.

Wilson Funeral Home
1212 Lathrop Ave., Racine  262-634-3361