Geraldine A. Goodman

     Geraldine A. Goodman, age 95 of Sparta, WI died December 24, 2020, unrelated to COVID 19. She was born July 18, 1925 in Tomah, WI to Lee and Thelma (Champlin) Pringle.

     Geraldine and Roy Leo Goodman of Sparta were united in marriage at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tomah on September 12, 1942 and treasured 60 years of marriage together.  World War II was a part of their lives for three years and after the war they lived in Rockford, IL for 5 years, returning to Sparta in 1950 where they lived the rest of their lives.

     Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Patricia Ann who died at birth, Danette Terese Tellijohn (Greg) and a son, Charles Leo Goodman (Theresa), six aspiring grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

     Gerry was active in the Sparta Jaycettes from 1951 to 1959 serving as president 1956-1957 when they earned the State First Merit Award.  She was a Girl Scout leader at St. Patrick’s School and served on the Riverland Girl Scout Council.  She was a member of St. Patrick’s P.C.C.W Group.  She was a commissioner on the Sparta Housing Authority at Brookside Apartments for six years and served on the Historical Preservation Commission for the City of Sparta for three years.

     She was a “Slick-Chick” of the Sparta Exhausted Roosters and life member of the Persian Gulf Command Veterans Organization Auxiliary.  She wrote two memoirs, “Growing Up in the Great Depression” and “3 Cheers for America – 3 Years for America” and kept up the Family Tree that her husband Roy had started.

     Gerry retired from the J.C. Penney Co. in 1989 after five years in Rockford and 24 years in Sparta as a merchandiser.  She worked as a food demonstrator for more than 23 years for the Hegenbarth Food Group at their local supermarket.  She was devoted to her family and her home.  She loved her work, being with people, doing yard work, and playing golf when able to fit it in.  She enjoyed entertaining, decorating for various holidays, and being remembered as the grandmother who baked all those cookies.

     She is survived by her son Charles Leo (Theresa) Goodman of Dallas, TX, son-in-law Greg G. Tellijohn of New Richmond, WI and six grandchildren: Katharine Jean (Ben) Grubert of Middlebury, IN, Nathaniel Roy (Sara) Goodman, Abigail Elizabeth (Manuel) Romero both of Dallas, Matthew Charles Goodman of Los Angeles, CA, Megan (Scott) Wood of Barneveld, WI, Eric (Angela) Tellijohn of New Richmond and seven great-grandchildren.  A sister, Bernice (Al) Buck, a half-sister Judy Pringle (Harry Pollak), a half-brother Leroy Pringle and many caring nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

     She was preceded in death by her daughters Patricia A. Goodman and Danette T. Tellijohn, her husband Roy L. Goodman, her parents Lee and Thelma Pringle, her brothers Kenneth and Lloyd Pringle and her sister Camilla (Eugene) Schuldt.

     A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 17, 2021 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sparta, with Father Eric Berns officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

     Family and friends are invited to call from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday at Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta. There will be a 7 p.m. rosary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Patrick’s School in Sparta. Online condolences may be offered to Gerry’s family at www.schanhoferfh.com

     Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta, is assisting the family with arrangements. 

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