Born Geraldine Kubala in Cleveland, Ohio in 1938, Gerrie Wilkowski married Pastor Donald Wilkowski in 1960 and earned her B.S. in Education at Capital University, Columbus in 1968.
She was commissioned by the American Lutheran Church as an Associate in Ministry at St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola, Indiana in 1985, where she founded and directed the preschool for 15 years, and earned her M.A. in Christian Spirituality in 1990 at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
Gerrie taught Kindergarten through 3rd Grade in Iowa and Ohio and served as a preschool director, teacher, and consultant at Calvary Lutheran School in Arleta, Bethel Lutheran Preschool in Encino, Hollywood Lutheran Preschool, and First Lutheran School in Northridge. She also served as secretary at Bethlehem, Temple City and Christ the King, Van Nuys, retiring in 2016.
She supported her husband and his congregations at Greater Plentywood Lutheran Parish in Plentywood, Montana; Skien Lutheran Church in Sloan, Iowa; St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola, Iowa; Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Temple City;
Central Lutheran Church in Van Nuys; and Calvary Lutheran Church in Arleta.
She organized and presented workshops, seminars throughout the Southwest California, Pacifica, and Grand Canyon Synods, and had a special love for Biblical and Christian History and Education and well as for the Theatrical Arts, using dramatic monologue to bring the Word to community and congregation.
From Gerrie Wilkowski's family: (
She) was a person of constant motion-with the one constant of all of her motion being serving the Lord. From opening and running to substitute teacher, to writing and presenting her theatrical monologues (Mary Magdalene, Pontius Pilot's Wife, "People Around the Cross of Calvary," "Putting on the Whole Armor of God," "Hats in the Life of a Woman," etc.), all of her activities were Christ-centered and Biblically based. When she wasn't actively in front of people sharing her faith, she and Don, her husband of 55 years, were praying daily for a multitude of people, as well as, visiting shut-ins and those hospitalized-she enjoyed each of those visits.
The day she went into the hospital she led worship and preached at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Temple City, ate lunch with her family at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Arcadia, and visited a shut-in from Emmanuel Lutheran of North Hollywood. Several hours later was hospitalized for shortness of breath, and passed away on All Saints Sunday morning before worship. Her prayers were answered and she became a new saint in heaven.
Gerrie is survived by her sister, JoAnne Faucett; her daughter, Elizabeth Rickertsen; and granddaughters Hannah and Petra Rickertsen.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 13 at 11:00 a.m at
Sherman Oaks Lutheran Church
14847 Dickens St, Sherman Oaks. A l
ight luncheon will follow.
Donations may be made in Gerrie's name to: ELATE (Emmanuel Lutheran Actors' Theatre Ensemble), a 501c3 organization, where Geraldine was an active member both on stage and behind the scenes.
ELATE, c/o Emmanuel Lutheran Church,
6020 Radford Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91606
(please write "Gerrie Wilkowski" on the memo line)
