Geraldine D. Iwanowski

Geraldine Iwanowski, 100, passed away peacefully September 20, 2022. She was born to Henry Albert Walters and Regina Anna Walters (Hollender) on September 11, 1922, at the family farm in Packwaukee, Wisconsin. She was third oldest of five children (Valera, Leroy, Eileen and Dixie Lee). Not quite 3 pounds, she was not expected to live and was incubated in the warmth of a wood stove.  She did live and her life and love were a remarkable blessing for many people.

Graduating from Westfield High School in 1940, she wanted to be a teacher. She worked to pay her way through Wisconsin State Teachers’ College in Steven’s Point and graduated in 1945. She taught second grade for two years in Reedsville, Wisconsin before marrying her husband of 65 years, Gerald (Jerry) Carson Iwanowski, in 1947. They moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1949, to be near Gerald’s place of birth and for the next twenty years, she traded her teaching career for the birth and nurturing of seven children.  Each benefited from her education and loving care and went on to graduate from college. 

Geraldine tutored countless children for reading intervention until she became a substitute teacher for Duval County, Florida in 1970, greatly impacting the lives of elementary-age children for forty years. She was baptized and confirmed in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, as were her children, and served the Lutheran faith community her entire life. 

Gerrie had two sisters still living in Wisconsin; Eileen Buehrens of Fond du Lac and Dixie Wagner of Montello, along with many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death are her siblings Valera Calder and Leroy Walters.

All seven of Gerrie’s children survive her. They are: Melanie Domani (Jay Danmeyer) of Fanning Springs, Florida, Mary Barnett (Jim West) of Sedalia, Colorado, Olivia Dobbs (David) of Bahama, North Carolina, Olanda Starkey (Don) of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Gary Iwanowski (Mary) of Jacksonville, Florida, Lary Iwanowski (Carla) of Travelers’ Rest, South Carolina, and Theron Iwanowski (Pat) of Melbourne, FL.

Gerrie had fourteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Grandchildren are: Robert Rentfrow, Jon Rentfrow (Elisha), Steven VanStark (Madison), Melissa Tracey (Mike), Ilex Climenhaga (McKinley), Ryan Dobbs (Kaitlin), Ivan A. Iwanowski, Adam Dobbs (Anna Lisa), Megan Iwanowski, and Lila Iwanowski.

Great grandchildren are Nicholas Rentfrow (Ashlyn), Liam Rentfrow, Jathan Rentfrow, Zekiah Rentfrow, Connor Cook, Elliot Rentfrow, Ivan L. Iwanowski, Ariella Rentfrow, Kai Tracey, Lincoln Climenhaga, Theo Rentfrow, Ian Tracey, Sloane Denton, Renly Dobbs, and Eli Tracey. She had one great great grandson; Lewis Rentfrow.

In all her living and giving among us, Geraldine always gave the glory to God.

A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, September 23 in Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home located at 3600 3rd Street South, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250. Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 24 in Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1423 8th Avenue North, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250. This service will be live Streamed Via Zoom. Please Click Here to join the meeting.  A committal service will be held later that day in Sampson Cemetery,  St. Augustine, Florida.