December 24, 2019 – West Bend, WI –Gertrude H. Kodai, nee Grotkiewicz, of West Bend, died on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at Ivy Manor at the age of 100. She was born on March 6, 1919 in Milwaukee to the late Stanislaus and Stella (nee Stachowicz) Grotkiewicz.
On September 4, 1937, she was united in marriage to Edward J. Kodai in Milwaukee. Edward predeceased September 25, 1983.
Survivors include 2 children: Judith Stefanski (Robert Cohn) of Elcho, WI and Edward (Laurel) of Shawano; Karen (Dennis) Steinhardt of West Bend, Carol (Bill) Schwanke of Alma, Christine (Cary) Christifulli of Monroe, NC, Keith (Lesley) Stefanski of St. Francis, WI, Edward Kodai of Tigerton and Victoria Kodai of California; 5 great-grandchildren; a dear niece Lynn (John) Rynders; other relatives and friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by 1 sister Dorothy Salvo and 2 brothers Tony Grotkiewicz and Chester Grotkiewicz.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 27 at 1:30 p.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church with Rev. Howard Haase presiding. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, Milwaukee. Visitation will be held on Friday from 12 noon until 1 p.m. at the Schmidt Funeral Home in West Bend.
