Gertrude Siewert

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gertrude Siewert (nee Schlobohm), age 91, of Wayne, NJ.

Gertrude passed away on Thursday, August 24, 2023 peacefully while receiving the loving care of her family.  She was born and raised in Brooklyn and was the only child to Walter and Margaret Schlobohm.  Many who knew Gertrude affectionately referred to her as “Trudy”, but to her family she will always be Gerty.

While growing up in Brooklyn, Gerty attended high school in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn and graduated with the class of 1949.  After graduating high school, she found employment quickly as a secretary/typist in Manhattan and taught Sunday School at her local church.  Gerty worked as a secretary for a few years, during which time she enjoyed attending German-American dances in New York City.  One night while out dancing she met a young handsome US Army serviceman by the name of Siegfried  "Fred” Siewert.  If there was ever a case of “Love at First Sight”, this was it.  As fate would have it, they fell in love, and not long after they began dating, the two became husband and wife at a Lutheran church in Brooklyn and would remain happily married for the next 60 years.

The newlyweds honeymooned in Germany for six months, staying with Fred's family and traveling in Europe.  Gerty and Fred came back to the United States and settled in Long Island, NY.  While residing in Long Island, the couple welcomed the births of both their daughters, Linda and Nancy.  In 1968 the family moved to Germany, and spent the next two years there.  When Gerty and her family returned to the United States in 1970, they settled in Passaic Park, NJ.

Once back in the United States, Gerty decided to get back into the workforce and worked as a secretary at Oneida Paper Company and customer service representative for Galvanic Printing until her retirement in 1992.  She and Fred retired at basically the same time and then moved to Englewood, FL.  The couple lived in Florida for the next eighteen years truly treasuring their retirement.  Gerty then moved back to New Jersey to live with her daughter Linda after her husband Fred’s passing in June of 2013. 

While living in NJ, Gerty and Fred were members of their local German-American Club where they met many wonderful people that would become lifelong friends. In Florida they also belonged to a German-American Club and were members of the Elks Lodge.   

In their spare time, they enjoyed  attending dances and other club activities, traveling and gardening.   One of Gerty's favorite places to be was at the beach.  She and her family traveled to a variety of destinations throughout the years including Bermuda, Bahamas, Italy, Hawaii, and St Maarteen.  She also treasured her family time spent at the Jersey Shore in Lavallette.  Gerty lived a good long life and was fortunate enough to know and love all eight great granddaughters.  

Gerty is survived by her two daughters: Linda Moakley and her husband William of Wayne, and Nancy Gannon of Clifton, four grandchildren, Nicki Stier and her husband Ken of Clifton, Tara Hecht and her husband William of Wayne, Dana Masino and her husband Matthew of Wayne, and William Moakley and his wife Alexis of Wayne, and eight great grandchildren: Jordyn, Hailey, Harper, Samantha, Callie, Hayden, Ava, and Aria.  She was predeceased by her husband Siegfried Siewert in 2013.  Gerty was very much loved and will be missed by many.