Geraldine "Gerri" Probst Martinez

With her husband and two children by her side, Geraldine Probst Martinez passed away peacefully at Silver Pines Nursing & Rehab on Aug 12, 2023.

Gerri was born on March 9, 1944, in Bastrop, Texas, to Joseph and Alma Probst. She was the fourth of five children and is survived by her siblings, Alinda Probst Darilek, Lloyd Probst (Penny), Imelda Probst Petty, and Bernard Probst. She is also survived by her husband Cecil, two children Vince Martinez (Laura) and Christina Martinez, five grandchildren Ethan Rodela (Sienna), Isaac Rodela, Elena Rodela, Jessica Martinez and Michael Martinez, and one great grandchild Ethan Rodela Jr. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Dolores Cantu and many nieces and nephews.

She attended private school at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rockne, Texas. The church and community got its start from German immigrants who came to this great country in the mid to late 1800’s. She was proud of her community and her school where she made life-long friends. Gerri’s senior year was the last class to graduate from the school in 1962. After the Church School closing the community kids went to public schools in Bastrop.

Gerri Attended evening classes for a year at Nixon-Clay Business College in Austin and started working for the Driskill Hotel. While working at The Driskill, she met her future husband, Cecil Martinez. After a couple of years of dating, they married in 1968. In 1969 Gerri and Cecil welcomed their first child when Gerri gave birth to Vincente (Vince) Cecilio Martinez.

After taking care of her baby for a few months Gerri returned to work in 1970 doing business administration work for Paul’s Home Fashions where she worked for 31 years until she retired in 2001.

While working for Paul’s she did ask for a leave of absence for a few months 1978 to give birth to her second child Christina Marie Martinez.

Gerri enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, Ethan, Isaac and Elena Rodela and Jessica and Michael Martinez. She loved the weekends when their children and grandchildren came to visit her and Cecil, and also when they were asked to babysit their grandchildren.

After retirement, Gerri and Cecil enjoyed traveling going to Europe several times, to South America, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, and several parts of our beautiful USA.

Also, after retirement, Gerri became very involved in two areas. One, she became a full-time insurance sales agent for Catholic Life Insurance for 17 years where she was always one of the top sales agents.

She was the top agent 3 or 4 years and always in the top ten.

Gerri was always very involved in the Rockne community with the Rockne Historical Association (RHA), St. Anne’s, and Bastrop Ladies of Charity. She did spend the most time with RHA as president for 10 years. She was always happy to help in any way that she could.

Gerri and Cecil were always very strong Christians and they always believed that God had brought their lives together to love each other, to enjoy their lives and to have a good family.

A memorial mass will be held on Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 10:00 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 4045 FM 535, Bastrop, TX 78602.

Gerri was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Alma Probst and her parents in-law Cecilio and Maria Martinez.

The Family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Silver Pines Nursing and Rehab Home in Bastrop, Texas for the wonderful care they gave Gerri while she was a resident there during the last two years.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to Rockne Historical Association or an organization of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wcfishnorth.com for the Martinez family.