Obituary of Gisela Bumgartner

Gisela Baumgartner passed away in Libertyville, Illinois on December 16, 2019 at the age of 97. Gisela was born in Czechoslovakia in 1922 to Johanna and Josef Shattauer. She attended nursing school and worked in several hospitals as a nurse during the World War II. Gisela came to the United States in the early 1950s where she married Josef Baumgartner and settled in West Bend, Wisconsin, near other friends who had also immigrated. The couple eventually moved to Chicago, purchased a 4 flat, and where Gisela began a 45 year career at Tiara Corporation. Always in motion, Gisela maintained her apartment building in pristine condition, tending to roses and hydrangeas in the front and a vegetable garden in the back. All who lived there were considered family; any children in the building were treated as if they were her own. She enjoyed the outdoors, often walking 5 miles a day in Horner Park or going cross country skiing with friends. She greeted everyone with a smile and laughed often. Gisela showed her love for others by cooking Sunday dinner, where there was always room for one more person at the table and no one ever went home hungry. Her love also extended to animals where she doted on pets Barney, Joey and Kona. Gisela is survived by family in Germany and Belgium and many friends in the Chicagoland area and Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by her husband Josef in 1972. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30am on Friday, December 20, 2019 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 121 E. Maple Avenue, Libertyville, Illinois, 60048 where a visitation will be held for one hour prior to Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Animal Education and Rescue, Libertyville, Illinois, www.aear.org.