Geraldine Schwaderer

Geraldine Gerry Montague Schwaderer, age 82, passed away Sunday, July 18, 2010 in Anchorage, Alaska. Gerry was born October 27, 1927 in Caro to the late Clarence and Parnel Terry Montague. She graduated from Caro High School, attended business school, and worked as a secretary until she married George Schwaderer, also of Caro, in 1947. They started a family in Caro, having three children. The family lived in Caro, Houghton, Manistee and Alpena before embarking on the adventure of moving to Alaska in 1960. In Juneau, they raised their three children, moving to Anchorage in 1970, then to Wasilla in 1984. While her heart was in making a loving home for her family, she also worked for her husbands engineering firm. After retiring in 1999, George and Gerry returned to the thumb area several times to visit family and do research as they collaborated on writing family histories of several Tuscola County families. She enjoyed playing bridge, doing needlework, reading, music and old movies, but most of all she loved time shared with her family and friends. Gerry is survived by her three children and their spouses, Carol & Doug Dickinson, Patty & Jim Robar, Fred & Leslie Schwaderer, six grandchildren, and five great grandchildren, all of Alaska; her brother, Richard Montague of Georgia; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Montague of Caro and Doris Schwaderer of Big Rapids; and cousin Lee Terry of Fairgrove. She is descended from many of the early pioneer families of Tuscola County and leaves a large extended family in the thumb area. Gerry was preceded in death by her husband, George, and brothers, Robert and Donald Montague.