BAHLKE, Germaine "Gerri" E., age 70

Died: Thursday, July 14th, 2016

Celebration of Life: Friday, July 22, 2016 at Evergreen Funeral Home.
Family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. with Reverend Joel Hoelter leading a brief service at 7:00 p.m.

Interment: Gates of Heaven Cemetery, Marshfield, Wisconsin at a later date

In lieu of flowers, it was Gerri's request for memorials be given to Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)
Donate by mail at: PCRM, Attn: Membership Dept., 5100 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20016
or on-line at: www.PCRM.org

Heaven gained another angel on July 14^th, 2016. Germaine "Gerri" Elizabeth (Keefer) Bahlke passed away peacefully surrounded by family and comforted by the purr of a kitten.

Gerri was born on May 24, 1946 in Marshfield, WI the daughter of the late Donal and Roceil (Langreck) Keefer. She spent much of her time as a young girl with her Grandmother Elizabeth who she loved dearly. It was then Gerri learned from her grandmother and mother to love and care for all animals, particularly those in need of a loving home and warm embrace. 

Gerri carried the love of animals with her the rest of her life and it became her calling. Gerri managed the Eau Claire County Humane Association from 1979 to 1991. It was during these years that Gerri (and her family) spent endless hours, both at home and at work, caring for stray animals. Many nights and weekends were consumed by caring for an older stray dog that could not handle the stress of a night in a dark, unfamiliar kennel or a litter of newborn kittens who could not survive the night without the warmth and nurturing of a mother. Gerri took great care in finding good matches for her adopted strays but also dealt with the harsh reality that not all strays would find their forever home. 

After 12 years at the Humane Association, Gerri changed direction and took a job at Oakwood Hills Animal Hospital in August of 1991. Here she was inspired by the kindness and care provided by Bob and Linda Bohacek and all of the staff there as well as the affection of caring pet owners. Gerri was truly motivated by all of this and loved her job greatly. Gerri continued to work at Oakwood Hills until her illness made it no longer possible.

Gerri married Jerry Johnson on June 10, 1963. They had two daughters, Lori and Melissa. The young family lived in Eau Claire, Ames, IA, and Pasedena, CA. Gerri and Jerry later separated but remained good friends. Gerri married Howard Bahlke on April 30, 1977 and they have lived in Eau Claire since.

More than anything in life, Gerri loved her grandchildren. From the time they were newborn infants, Gerri could not wait to love and care for them. And, not surprisingly, she was awesome at it. As the grandkids got older, Gerri took on the affectionate and appropriate name "Gramma Dog" or "G-Dog" thanks partially due to the ever changing combination of pets roaming the house as well as a nickname brother Ron had given her years earlier. Gerri would always look forward to spending time with the grandchildren regardless of what was going on. With any luck, the parents would have to be somewhere overnight and the grandkids would get to sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa's. It was unclear who had the most fun. Grandma or Grandpa Howie and the grandkids after Grandma fell asleep!

Gerri's other lifelong passion besides her family and animals were her flowers. Gerri had an amazing yard filled with beautiful flowers and shrubs. There was no better time than sitting in her backyard with her on a summer evening and watching the garden come to life with the neighborhood wildlife. Like her mother, Gerri prided herself in always adding new and beautiful things in her yard each year. She also took great pride in taking seeds and bulbs from her plants and giving them to family and friends often times helping plant them or doing the planting for them.

Gerri will be excited to reunite with her Mother and Grandmother who she so dearly missed as well as being freed from her 2 year battle with cancer. She leaves all those she has touched in her life with many wonderful memories and we will miss her boundless love and kindness. We will also miss her voice for those who cannot speak. Rest peacefully Gerri, you will remain in our hearts forever. 

Gerri is survived by her husband, Howie; daughters, Lori (Ken) Faanes and Melissa (Chris) Davies; brother, Ron (RoseMary) Keefer; grandchildren, Logan Wahl (fiancé Cory Lindgren), Morgan Faanes (fiancé Jake Dahl), and Justin Faanes; step-daughter, Jackie (John) Ronnestrand and her son, Doug Lewis; her beloved cat, Piper; and longtime friend, Terri Quast; many cousins, other relatives and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ben and Elizabeth; step-grandfather, John Marty; uncles, George, Willie, Irvin, Raymond, Julius, Albert, Lawrence, Edmund, Bernard and Arnold Langreck; and aunts, Adeline Kasberger and Angeline Lander.

The family would like to give special thanks to Hope Lodge in Rochester, MN and the doctors and staff of Mayo Clinic in both Rochester and Eau Claire and The Classic at Hillcrest Green in Altoona. We would also like to thank the numerous special family and friends that made trips to visit Gerri, helped with transportation, sent cards or were with us in spirit.

"Animal lovers are a special breed of humans, generous of spirit, full of empathy, perhaps a little prone to sentimentality, and with hearts as big as a cloudless sky" -John Grogan, Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog.