Gertrud Harris

Gertrud was born on September 11, 1928, to Karl Kächele and Lina Eisenschmidt in Salach, Germany. Gertrud occasionally shared stories of the challenges she encountered growing up during WWII as a young child. In the 1960s she worked in the Post Exchange on Cooke Barracks in Göppingen, Germany where she met her future husband, Jack Harris. Jack received military orders to transfer to Heidelberg where the family lived for approximately three years until he was called to serve in Vietnam. Gertrud and her son Michael moved in with Gertrud’s parents in Salach until Jack’s return. After serving a year in Vietnam Jack was stationed in Heidelberg where the family lived until his retirement in 1975 where the family moved to San Antonio, Texas.

Gertrud received her U.S. Citizenship while always being proud of her German heritage. She enjoyed gardening and especially loved flowers which were always part of the decor in the home. She enjoyed various crafts, created lovely cross-stitch pieces that adorned her home and spent much of her time doing crossword puzzles. She was a connoisseur of chocolate which she attributed to her longevity as it was always a part of her daily diet.

Due to mobility and health issues Gertrud moved to the Senior Haven Assisted Living Facility. The staff enjoyed her company and often complimented her for being such a pleasant resident. Staff stated that Gertrud enjoyed hot tea along with her chocolate. She passed away peacefully leaving behind an endless supply of chocolate.

Gertrud is survived by her son Michael Harris; the supplier of her chocolate and flowers and daughter in-law Lori who kept her entertained with photos of her various travels.

An Interment Service will be held at Hill Country Memorial Gardens, 11700 TX-46, New Braunfels, TX 78132, US, on April 21, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.