Beverly Gericke

Beverly Ann (Higgins) Gericke, wife, mother, community organizer, and businesswoman, peacefully passed away with her family at her side at the age of 86 on Sunday, February 13, 2022, at Century Oaks in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Born in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, on November 18, 1935, she was the daughter of the late William Royce and Blanche Irene (Suthers) Higgins.

She spent her childhood, and many times throughout her life, on the Door County Peninsula. She graduated from the Sturgeon Bay High School in 1953, and was active in the school's music department and played on its women's basketball team.

On December 28, 1954, she married Robert Leroy Gericke on a beautiful winter evening at the Congregational Church in Sturgeon Bay, which was decorated for Christmas. They lovingly raised four children in 67 years of marriage, and she was immensely proud of her family.

She attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison and worked in the University's Department of Agriculture's laboratory - testing a wide range of dairy and brewery products.

Her community service was an ever-important aspect and passion of her life, and she was a force for good in many organizations.

Bev was a South Milwaukee School Board member, co-founder of the New Hope Nursery for Handicap Children, a regional representative and trainer for the Fox Valley Girl Scouts Council (and the leader of her daughter's troop), a Women's Club member, a local Cub Scout and Boy Scout organizer, and was instrumental in the planning and opening of Seymour's Good Shepard nursing home.

She was the founder and committed member of several community book clubs and a regular volunteer at the Menasha YMCA - where she oversaw the childcare and foodservice programs. She was an avid bridge player and genealogist.

Her professional life included being the co-owner/developer and director of The Edgewood - an event venue and restaurant in Seymour, Wisconsin. Beverly was also a realtor at Bytof and Acre Realty and helped Fox Valley families find their homes for several years.

She was an active part of the United Methodist Church in Seymour, where she sang for decades as an alto in the church's choir. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the church's Building Committee and helped lead the move to its' new home.

Bev was a passionate Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers fan and loved following sports.

She had a kind heart, an engaging and determined personality, with a warm soul that loved reading, sewing, crafts, gardening, camping, boating adventures, and sharing the outdoors with her family in Door County.

She is survived by her children, Michael Gericke (Suzanne Zumpano), David Gericke (Melanie Creger), Sharon Molloy (Gericke), and Scott Gericke; and her four special grandchildren, Olivia and Austin Gericke, and Lindsay and Jaime Molloy.

In addition to Beverly's parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Robert Leroy Gericke; her brothers, Gene Higgins and William Higgins; and her sister, Joanne Higgins.

Her life will be celebrated at a memorial service at the New Life United Methodist Church, 721 Pleasant Way, Seymour, on Saturday, March 12, 2022. Visitation will be from 10:00 am until the time of services at 11:00 am. Muehl-Boettcher Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences to Beverly's family, and tributes, may be expressed at www.muehlboettcher.com