Twelfth Generation

334. Dorothy Geraldine "Gerry" SOWLE was born on 27 April 1921 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^134,191 She appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁴ She graduated in 1938 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁹¹ from Tomah High School. Gerry died on 21 June 2008 at the age of 87 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Township, Milwaukee County, WI.¹²⁴

Obituary Notes: "Geraldine Sowle Schlosser, age 87, of Wauwatosa, WI formerly of Tomah, WI passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2008, in Milwaukee, WI. She was born on April 27, 1921,the youngest child of Claude and Luetta (Scott) Sowle in Tomah, WI. She grew up in Tomah, where she graduated from high school in 1938. She then attended college at Milwaukee State Teacher’s College (now University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), where she majored in music. In 1943 she received a degree in anthropology from the University of Wisconsin n Madison. The patriot fervor of wartime led her to enlist in the WAAC, where she became a radio mechanic. Most of the years from 1943-1945 were spent at Midland Army Air Base in Texas.

For a short time after her discharge, she worked in Oklahoma City for Braniff Airlines, and then returned to Madison and the University of Wisconsin for a year of graduate study in Physical Anthropology. It was during that year that she met Jim Schlosser and they were married at St. Robert’s Rectory in Shorewood on July 12, 1947. They moved to Milwaukee where Jim was employed by WTMJ in the News Department.

She stayed busy raising her children and was very active in their lives and the community. She was a volunteer in the League of Women Voters and Women’s Society of Aldersgate Methodist church. She also was a Girl Scout leader for her daughter Chris’ troop from Brownies through their senior year.

She went back to school part time in 1964, and went to work at the Milwaukee Public Library in 1966. Following the birth of her fourth child, she received her Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1968.

In 1975, Gerry became interested in genealogy. Since that time, tracing her ancestors and her husband’s, as well as helping others, has become her major interest. She joined the Soule Kindred in 1976 and became editor of their quarterly newsletter in 1982. She was a member of several genealogical and family societies throughout the country.

In 1985, Gerry and Jim moved to the Tomah area. She became active in the Monroe-Juneau-Jackson Genealogical Workshop, Monroe County Historical Society, First United Methodist Church and the Shakespeare Club.

Geraldine is survived by her loving husband, Jim of 61 years and also by her children, Dan (Connie) Schlosser, Ken (Tina) Schlosser, Chris Schlosser and Steve (Colleen) Schlosser. Further survived by her nephew, Ted “Scott” Roeder, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2008, 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Tomah, WI. Pastor William Swan will officiate. Burial will follow in the Mount Vernon Cemetery in Tomah, WI."

Dorothy Geraldine "Gerry" SOWLE and James Robert "Jim" SCHLOSSER were married on 7 December 1947 in Shorewood, Milwaukee County, WI.¹⁹¹ James Robert "Jim" SCHLOSSER, son of Robert SCHLOSSER and Elizabeth FRIEDEL, was born on 10 November 1919 in Marshfield, Wood County, WI.¹⁹¹

Dorothy Geraldine "Gerry" SOWLE and James Robert "Jim" SCHLOSSER had the following children: