Geraldine Houlihan Ward

MADISON - Geraldine Lucille Houlihan Ward age 74, died Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at Trinity Senior Community. Gerry was born in the home of her parents, Bob and Julie Houlihan, Souix City, IA on April 4, 1937. She earned a B.S. in Education at the Univ. of Omaha, Omaha, NE; was a member of Kappa Delta Pi and continued with graduate work at UNO. Gerry married Gerald Ward on August 1, 1959 in Omaha, NE. She taught 5th grade at Fontenelle Elementary in the Omaha Public School district. She took time out to raise two daughters before returning to full-time work at the Home Office of American Family Insurance, Madison, WI for 27� years as a Product Training Specialist, retiring June 2002.

Gerry loved her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed travel; winning a honeymoon trip to Colorado Springs, CO; another trip to Hawaii; and taking special trips with her husband throughout England, France, Ireland, Switzerland, Monaco and the U.S. She was a voracious reader, Cornhusker fanatic, and crossword puzzler extraordinaire. She loved to follow politics and was a true tree-hugger.

She is survived by her husband Jerry; daughters, Lisa Macaulay (Jay Ruffin), Gina (Rob DeBauche); grandchildren, Brittany (Rick Johnson), Bree, Austin and Dani and great-granddaughters, Grace and Savannah; her sister, Maureen Albert, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Tom.

Love starts with a smile, grows with a kiss and ends with a tear.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Alzheimer's and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, 517 North Segoe Road, Suite 301, Madison WI 53705.

A visitation will be held on Friday, May 27, 2011 at Cress Funeral Home, 1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie, WI from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. A private family service will take place at a later date.