Gertrude Pett

WAUNAKEE - Gertrude Irma Kienow Pett, age 104, passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2019. To know Gertrude was to know a sense of pride, a sharp wit, and a passion for teaching. There are so many notable moments in over a century of life. Her joy was in her strong faith, her childhood memories, and of her family.

Born on March 1, 1915, to Edward and Helen Kienow, Gertrude grew up in Milwaukee. Gertrude met Roy Marcelle Pett in Edgerton where she began her teaching career. The romance began when Marc the reporter borrowed a typewriter from Gertrude's classroom and didn't return it on time. An "apology date" soon followed. They were married on November 16, 1940, in Milwaukee and then began their life together on Blaine Street in Edgerton. Here they welcomed two daughters, Carolyn Susan and Judy Kay. Gertrude taught typing and business education in the Edgerton School District for over 25 years where she influenced many young lives. She liked to say that her years of teaching keyboarding got us to where we are with computers today. Both Gertrude and Marc were well-known community leaders in Edgerton and made many life-long friends there. Gertrude loved playing bridge with her Edgerton and Waunakee friends, traveling the world, coffee, and chocolate. After her move to Waunakee, she was a fixture in the Grand Friends program with the 5th graders from St. John's School. Both seniors and students learned much from each other. Gert's grand friends still celebrated her birthday with her each year even as they entered middle school, high school, and college. We were all still learning a thing or two from her at age 104.

Gertrude was most happy when with her family, which includes her daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Jim Kennedy of Waunakee; son-in-law, Mike Riley; her grandchildren, Kevin and Jenny Riley, Abby and Eric Manders, and Matthew and Heather Kennedy, all of whom she was very proud. And every night she would ask about the "little ones", her adored great-children, Grace, Jacob, Emily, Nolan and Aedan.

Gertrude cared deeply for her loving sister and best friend, Ruth Werning, and her many caring nieces and nephews and their families throughout the country. Gertrude also embraced her extended Kennedy and Riley families, and appreciated the many holidays and celebrations spent with them.

Gertrude was preceded in death by her husband, R. Marcelle Pett, in 1974; her daughter, Carolyn Susan Riley in 2006; her parents; her brothers, Orwald Kienow and Erich Kienow; her brothers-in-law, Marlette Pett, Jack Pett, Robert Schmelzkopf and Rev. Waldo Werning; and her sisters-in-law; and special friends, Margie Schmelzkopf and Marjorie Pett.
Funeral services will be held on Friday Aug 9, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at Winn-Cress Funeral Home, 5785 Hwy. Q Waunakee. Rev Joel Brandt will preside. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services. A reception will follow at Rex's Innkeeper.

The family would like to thank the nurses, aides, social workers and other staff of Waunakee Manor Healthcare Center for the endless and thoughtful care and friendship that they provided over the past five years. We are so grateful to you. We would also like to thank Agrace Hospice Care for their guidance in the last days.
A memorial will be designated at a later date.

All that Mom was in life will inspire all of us for the remainder of our lives.

Winn-Cress Funeral Home