Gertrude E Onstad

Gertrude Emilia Onstad, age 99, of San Diego, California, died Saturday, June 24, 2017, peacefully at home. She was a woman of strong faith, cared deeply about others, and was a charter member of Clairemont Lutheran Church. She was also active in the P.E.O. Sisterhood and on the San Diego Junior Theatre Board of Trustees. She had been married to Reuben for 66 years when he died in 2016. She was loved and respected by all who knew her.

Gertrude was born on October 10, 1917, in Cook, Nebraska. Her father, Rev. Friedrich Krauss, immigrated to the U.S. after completing his education in Germany. Her mother, Mathilda Kraushaar, was born in Illinois to German immigrant parents. Gertrude had one sister and four brothers. The family moved several times in Nebraska and Kansas as her father accepted calls to serve various congregations as a Lutheran minister. In Stuttgart, Kansas, Gertrude attended a two-room school and recalls fierce dust storms in the midst of severe drought, which was also during the Great Depression. After graduating from high school she felt fortunate to get a job with the Federal Farm Security Administration.

She later moved to Minneapolis to live with her aunt and worked for Occidental Life Insurance Company for nine years. She met Reuben in a Luther League group at church in Minneapolis, before he enlisted in the Navy during World War II. After the war they reconnected. They married in 1950 in Minneapolis and immediately moved to Boulder City, Nevada, living there less than a year before settling in San Diego, where their three children were born.

Gertrude loved traveling and kept good care of the family during treks across the country to regular Kraushaar family reunions. She also greatly enjoyed living in Norway and Belgium in 1979-1982, where they lived for Reuben’s job. During those years they took many trips around the continent by train and also flew to Greece and Egypt. After Reuben retired they traveled to Ecuador, the Galapogos Islands, Spain, Portugal, Morocco and South Africa.

Gertrude and Reuben were charter members of Clairemont Lutheran Church in San Diego. Gertrude served as president of the congregation and was active in many ministries, Bible studies and women's groups. She was an early supporter and volunteer with San Diego's Community (originally Clairemont) Christian Service Agency (CCSA). Gertrude was an active and loyal member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, including when she lived in Europe.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s Gertrude served on the San Diego Junior Theatre Board of Trustees, including terms as Treasurer and President. Not only were all her children involved in Junior Theatre, Gertrude herself enjoyed several acting roles in high school theatrical productions.

Gertrude loved cooking and entertaining for family, friends and strangers. She was a generous hostess, often opening her home to servicemen and others at Christmas and Thanksgiving time, who were blessed to have a convivial meal when away from their own families.

Gertrude is survived by children Mark, Eric and Julianna, daughter-in-law Joyce, and granddaughters Jasmine and Nicole. Gertrude at Jasmine and Nicole. On Saturday, July 22nd, at 11 am, there will be a memorial service for Gertrude at Clairemont Lutheran Church, 4271 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, 92117. Inurnment will be at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, 92122. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gertrude's name are suggested to Clairemont Lutheran Church.

Arrangements under the direction of Funeraria Del Angel Humphrey, Chula Vista, CA.