Esther R. Gehrt

Esther Gehrt, age 103 of Appleton, passed away on January 11, 2024. Esther was born in West Allis on November 4, 1920, the youngest of four children born to T.J. and Mary (Stolpa) Raniszewski. T.J. was known professionally as Bill Ramsey. 

Following her graduation from West Allis Central High School in 1939, Esther worked for a physician in West Allis as his receptionist, bookkeeper, and scheduler. She also developed X-Rays, administered treatment, and handled wounds. 

In 1941, she began working at Time Insurance Company, and later worked for Motors Insurance Company, a subsidiary of General Motors.  Both companies were in Milwaukee.  

On September 10, 1949, Esther married the late Vaughn F. Gehrt in Milwaukee, and they moved to Appleton in August of 1953. Here she worked for Hardware Mutual Insurance Company and Integrity Mutual Insurance Company. She stayed home when their sons were young, and later worked part-time at Retail Credit, which later became Equifax. She also worked at Hardware Mutual (now Sentry Insurance). 

Esther also enjoyed volunteering at the LEAVEN office, at church, and being a Cub Scout den mother. 

She is survived by two sons: Ken (Deon) Gehrt of Merrill and Steven Gehrt of Tomah; a great-niece: Patricia (Tom) Recely; a great-nephew: Wayne (Jan) Podolak of Sussex; and her dearest friends, Ellen Mai, Susan McFadden, and others. 

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of sixty-years: Vaughn F. Gehrt; sisters: Agnes Podolak and Sylvia Breister; brother: Ray Ramsey; her cousin: Ray Czarnecki; and sister-in-law:  Glorian (Martin) Reinke, a nephew Ken Waligorski, and a niece Evelyn Middleton.

The funeral services for Esther will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at First Congregational UCC, located at 724 E. South River Street in Appleton. Rev. Mary Jo Laabs will officiate, and the burial will be in Merrill Memorial Park. Visitation will be at the church on Thursday morning from 9:00 AM until the time of the service at 11:00 AM. 

Gifts in memorium may be directed to LEAVEN, First Congregational United Church of Christ Music Ministry, or the Fox Valley Memory Project.