Gerri Wilt

Wilt

Gerri

Age 83

Of White Bear Lake

Died on May 22, 2023 surrounded by her family. Preceded in death by husband Tom, daughter Sue Flaspeter & parents Ray & Toots Leick. Survived by daughters Sally (Frank) Kline, Shannon (Sean) Sargent, Stacey (Mark) Stein, Sarah (Tim) Cichon; 12 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren & siblings Cindy Hess (Tim), Don Leick (Monica) & Jim Leick (Joy). Service Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 1:00 pm at MUELLER MEMORIAL, 4738 Bald Eagle Avenue, White Bear Lake with visitation starting at 12:00 Noon. Interment St. Mary of the Lake Cemetery. Memorials preferred to donor's choice.

My mother has some characteristics that were deeply a part of her my entire life. She was a musician. One of my earliest memories is of her singing the lullaby she composed to quiet me because I was a fussy baby. From humming while cooking and driving to singing at weddings and playing difficult piano pieces from memory, music was important to her, including the last weeks of her life.

She was an artist. A ceramicist, that made the Christmas trees we all have. An accomplished knitter, who made sweaters for us growing up as well as heirloom baby blankets. A scrapbook artist and visual storyteller, as well as a painter of a lifelike portrait of her dog Angel and an abstract art painting with her granddaughter Olivia this past year.

She was an intrepid traveler. This included long road trips with cranky children in a motor home to explore the national parks and most states, as well as cruises, family trips with children and grandchildren, business trips to New York with Stacey and trips to her beloved Hawaii and fun times in Las Vegas.

She was a fiercely intelligent and independent marital, parenting and business partner to our Dad. The business success was a shared venture featuring her business and financial acumen and our father's ability as a creator and entrepreneur.

She was a heartfelt mother to all of her 5 daughters and to many of our friends as well as loads of children she taught to read as a school volunteer. Her favorite phrase about children was "I never met a child I did not like". She was a magnet for children due to her complete focus and absolute presence well as her ability to radiate complete acceptance and joy.