Gertrude “Gertie” Pauline Hicks Schubert went home to be with the Lord Dec. 25, 2010.
Born July 28, 1918, in Iola, she was the only child of Clayton and Lona Hicks of Iola and was raised in Iola and other small towns in Allen County.
She attended Iola Junior College where she majored in teaching and received her teaching certificate. One of her first jobs was teaching in a small one-room school in Allen County, starting her own fires in the winter, and cleaning the room herself. She was selected for a teaching position as music teacher in 1944 at the high school in Ramona, where she met Henry “Hank” Schubert.
Hank and Gertie were married May 27, 1945, and were blessed with two sons, Keith and Gary.
She went on to teach for 30 years in the Ramona and Centre school districts. Hank and Gertie moved to Greeley, Colo., in May 2004, because of health reasons and to be closer to their sons and their families. They celebrated 60 years of marriage before Hank died in September 2005.
Gertie loved to read, and American history was her favorite as she pictured herself in a covered wagon going across the plains and over mountains, enjoying each adventure she took through the pages of her books. She loved taking photos of family and friends, ice storms in Ramona, snow, sunsets, farm country, and crops growing. She enjoyed playing cards, spending time with family and friends, and taking long rides in the country.
While in Colorado, she also enjoyed taking rides across the farmlands, around the towns, or into the glorious mountains.
Gertie was an accomplished pianist and organist and played for numerous weddings and funerals for more than 30 years at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Each Christmas season, she would prepare and assist with Christmas programs at school and church with the children. Remembering those programs brought her so much joy, and perhaps it is fitting that she left us on the day she loved to celebrate so much.
Gertie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, and friend. She was a kind, loving woman whose life was designed around her family and friends, and she showed her unconditional love to all of us always. She will forever live in our hearts and will be greatly missed.
Gertie was preceded in death by her beloved husband Hank.
She is survived by two sons, Keith and daughter-in-law Vicki, and Gary and daughter-in-law Carol; four grandchildren, Kimberly and husband Adam, Micah and wife Cara, Tara and husband Kelly, and Kristina and fiancé LeeRoy; and seven great-grandchildren, Logan, Tasia, Kaela, Malachi, Jenna, Acacia, and Koy.
She met 3-month-old Koy for the first time Dec. 21 as Tara and Kelly returned to Greeley for Christmas from their home in Missouri. And now she is with Jesus and reunited with her beloved Hank once again.
Memorial services will be May 28, in Ramona.
Memorial contributions will be used for a marble bench at Lewis Cemetery.
Cards and memorials may be sent to the Schubert’s oldest son, Keith Schubert, 3915 S Telluride Court, Aurora CO 80632.