Mildred Pauline Gerstmann

Mildred Pauline Gerstmann passed away quietly on December 13. She was born in Fort Bend County on December 7, 1922 to August and Meta Engeling. Mildred was baptized and confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church in Beasley, Texas, and was a faithful Christian her entire life. She went to visit Hanna Boehnemann, a friend who was working at Lutheran Children's Home (now Bremwood) in Waverly, Iowa in 1943, and took a job caring for the children. The choice was indicative of her lifelong love for all children. Mildred and Hanna made several trips throughout the western United States, a somewhat daring undertaking for two women in the late 1940's. In 1951 she met Eric, her husband to be when he took a job as a social worker at the Home. They were married in August of the following year and had 59 years of joy together. During their time in Waverly they established many lifelong relationships with staff, residents, and fellow members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. They relocated to Austin in 1965 and she resided there until her death. She was initially a member of Faith Lutheran and later of Ascension Lutheran.

She is survived by her husband Eric, daughter Carol Crader, son and daughter-in-law Gerald and Marilynn Gerstmann. She has four grandchildren, Matthew Crader and wife Maggie, Eric Crader, James Gerstmann and wife Julia, and Amanda Gerstmann, and one great grandchild, Evelyn Gerstmann. She is also survived by her brothers Rev. Henry Engeling and his wife Loretta and Wilfred Engeling and his wife Lorene and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother Ervin Engeling and his wife Erna Mae, her sister Elverda Ognoskie and her husband Lester, and her grandson Sean Gerstmann.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 17th at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Sunday December 18 at 1:30 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, 6420 Hart Lane, with interment to follow at Capital Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Ascension Lutheran Church or Lutheran Social Services of the South.