Gertrude K. Purschwitz died peacefully at her home in Roscoe, Ill., on Wednesday, July 8, 2015, at the age of 94.

The former Gertrude Viola Koch was born on March 5, 1921, in West Point, Jackson Co, Ill. She was the daughter of Rev. Walter and Agnes (Buescher) Koch. During her youth her family lived near Merrill, Wisconsin where she graduated from Merrill High School in 1938 and Lincoln County Normal Teachers College in 1940.

On Sept. 25, 1943 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mt. Rainier, Md., she was united in marriage to Theodore W. Purschwitz. Together they established a home and raised six children. Gertrude loved her Lord and her family. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother who will be remembered for her gentle ways and kind and caring spirit.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ted, her parents, three brothers and a sister.

She is survived by her children: Susan Koch, Augusta, Wis.; Jane NNielsen, Burnsville, Minn.; Anne Ashe, South Haven, Mich.; Mark (Sue) Purschwitz, Georgetown, Ky.; Ruth (Wayne) Meissen, Roscoe, Ill.; and Cynthia (Marco) Ross, Memphis, Tenn; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service to remember and celebrate Gertrude’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bremen, with Rev. Roger Rohde officiating. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, at Mishler Funeral Home, Bremen. Interment will be at the Bremen Cemetery.

The family requests that memorial donations in Gertrude’s name be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bremen, or the American Red Cross.