Geraldine Bernice “Gerrie” Wojtowicz, age 95, of Magnolia Springs, and a long-term co-resident of Bass Lake and Greenwood, Indiana, passed away surrounded by her daughter Geralyn, son Paul and daughter-in law Karen Thursday, March 5, 2020. Born and raised in Chicago, she graduated from Loyola University School of Nursing and while in school, she met the love of her life Edward Paul Wojtowicz. They were married and started building their lives together residing in Chicago beginning a family. In 1958 Ed and Gerrie moved to Bass Lake, Indiana as entrepreneurs purchasing the Shore Room. Shortly after she began pursuing her passion of Public Health Nursing and became a county public health nurse for several northern Indiana counties. She left the family for two years driving back and forth to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor to get her Master’s in Public Health Nursing. From then on the family thrived and grew when Gerrie became the Director of Public Health Nursing for the State of Indiana, they sold the Shore Room and moved to Greenwood in 1967, where Ed bought the 851 McDonalds built on Country Line Road. The family continued to flourish in Greenwood. When Ed’s parents passed Ed purchased Shady Lane at Bass Lake and the family spent time between Bass Lake and Greenwood. Throughout her life Gerrie lived and practiced her Catholic faith. In September 2007 she lost her beloved husband, Ed. Keeping Bass Lake as her permanent home Gerrie spent many hours working on church related efforts starting bible study classes and running the classes herself. In 2015 she decided she could not continue on her own at Bass Lake and returned to Greenwood where she entered a senior living community close to her two sons and their families. Gerrie was a vibrant and sassy resident of the community and once again worked with a local Catholic church to begin bible study classes for the residents, never to be underestimated even at 90. She participated in an active social life in all of her pursuits, and she made many dear friends everywhere she lived during her 95 years. Gerrie was preceded in death by her parents, Julia and Peter Madro, her sister Gertrude Brotko, and her beloved husband Edward Paul Wojtowicz. Geraldine is survived by her daughters Anita, Geralyn, sons Paul and Peter, son in law Jerry, daughter in laws Karen, Melissa and grandchildren Andrew, Zachary, Jacob, Dawson, Audrey and Jarod.
Visitation will take place Saturday, March 14, 2020 from 11:00am to 12:45pm (CT) at M.C. Smith Funeral Home in Knox. Funeral Mass will follow at 1:00pm (CT) at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Knox. A private interment will take place at Bass Lake Cemetery at a later date.
