Geraldine Freitag Woelfel

Gerry was born on February 20, 1937 in Avon, South Dakota to Otto and Selma (Heins) Freitag. Gerry and her twin brother Gerald were the 3rd & 4th children in the family. She was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Avon on March 14, 1937. Gerry confirmed her Christian faith at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, South Dakota on June 15, 1951. She graduated from Central High School of Aberdeen on June 1, 1955 where she participated in Dance Band, Orchestra, Acapella Choir, All State Band and Concert Band. After high school Gerry attended Concordia Junior College in St. Paul, Minnesota (1956-57) earning an Associate in Arts degree. While at Concordia she again showed her immense love of music by being involved in Chapel Choir, Band, Choral Club, Messiah Choir and The Lost Chord Trio. Gerry was a Band Majorette (twirling fire-lit batons!), a member of the House Council and the SAB Literary Society.

Gerry moved to Houston, Texas and began her teaching career at St. Mark Lutheran Church and School (originally on Silber Road) in 1957. Gerry told a story about her first Sunday School classes being held in a converted chicken coop! While there she met and married another church member, Harry Lee Woelfel, on June 5, 1960. Their marriage was one of the first to be held at the new St. Mark location on Hillendahl. In 1961 Harry was drafted into the United States Army and it was off to Fort Belvoir, Virginia. While in Virginia Gerry worked for the government in an office located near the White House. She once told us she had to deliver something to the Pentagon and got lost when she walked into a broom closet. In January of 1963, daughter Lisa Dawn was born – also in Virginia. After Harry’s active-duty service ended in 1964, the Woelfels returned to their home in Houston – a home they owned for 63 years - and Gerry resumed teaching at St. Mark and continued until the mid-1970s. Son, Michael Wayne was born in Houston in March 1970. Gerry continued her education and in 1972 received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the University of Houston. During her years at St. Mark, Gerry was also the much-loved director of the children’s choir and an assistant to the adult choir. After leaving her employment at St. Mark, Gerry briefly taught at Spring Branch Academy, a private school for children with learning disabilities. Next, she was employed by Corporate Recruiting as a placement specialist for business professionals.

Gerry returned to her passion and life as a teacher in the late 70s at the Briarwood School, also a private school for the learning disabled. She remained in this position until the late 80s. Gerry’s love for education next led her to work for and develop LitTech, a literacy learning program. In the 90s Gerry worked at Women’s Health Care Center of Houston as a financial counselor for obstetrical parents. Over her lifetime Gerry spent countless hours showing compassion to others and sharing the love of Jesus by volunteering for many groups and agencies including: Women’s Christian Home, teaching ESL through LINC Houston, utilizing the LitTech program at St. Mark to tutor many students, and was a parent mentor to abused girls at Krause Children’s Center in Katy. Gerry was a Bible Study Teacher for approximately 8 years at Inner Change Prison Ministry in Sugarland’s Jester Unit. She also drove many miles and spent her retirement years visiting the homebound or hospitalized members of St. Mark.

Gerry was preceded in death by her husband, Harry, her parents OJo and Selma, three brothers – Donald, Kenneth and her twin, Gerald. She is survived by her youngest brother, Merle, her children Lisa (Don) Emery and Michael, three grandchildren, Aaron (Amy) Hollingshead, Rachel (Zach) Haynes, Amanda (Josh) Costilla, three great-grandsons, Neil, Robbie and Jeremy and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and loved ones.

Memorials in Gerry’s honor may be directed to St. Mark Lutheran School.

A visitation with the family was held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at Waltrip Funeral Directors, 1415 Campbell Road in Houston, Texas. Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1515 Hillendahl Blvd. in Houston, with Reverend Matt Popovits, officiating.