Gertrude M. Keusch

Gertrude Keusch, 88, of Beal City passed away Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at Prestige Centre in Mt. Pleasant. A Funeral Mass for Gertrude will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 13, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Beal City with Father Ricky Varner as celebrant. A luncheon will immediately follow at the Beal City Knights of Columbus Hall. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Cemetery in Lansing at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends in the gathering room of the church on Monday from 4-8 p.m. with the Rosary beginning at 7:30 p.m. Visitation continues on Tuesday one hour prior to Mass. Memorial contributions may be made to Great Lakes Caring Hospice or St. Joseph the Worker Church. Envelopes will be available at the church or at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home. Gertie was born May 18, 1929, in Beal City, daughter of the late John M. and Minnie M. (Gross) Schafer. She graduated from St. Philomena High School in Beal City in 1948 and married William Stewart in 1952. That union produced 10 children: Diann, Patricia, Elaine, Weldon, Margaret, Rose, Carl, David, Betty, and Lisa. She later married Robert Keusch on March 30, 1992 at Sacred Heart Church in Mt. Pleasant. Gertie owned and operated the Beal City Tavern along with her husband Bill. She was a social butterfly. Some of her favorite activities included dancing, playing cards, camping, and fishing. She was a member of St. Joseph Parish, its altar society, and attended Mass daily with Bob. She loved her family, especially her grandchildren, and she will be missed dearly. Gertie is survived by eight children, Patricia Stewart of Mt. Pleasant, Elaine Stiles of Weidman, Weldon Stewart of Weidman, Rose Stewart of Weidman, Carl (Ann) Stewart of Mt. Pleasant, David Stewart of Weidman, Betty (Todd) Lee of Texas, and Lisa Tower (Kelly Atkinson) of Weidman; son-in-law, Russell Gross of Weidman; 17 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren (with one on the way); siblings, Liz Tschappat of Mt. Pleasant, Harry Schafer (Paula Clagget) of Weidman, Steve (Janet) Schafer of Weidman, and Tom (Enid) Schafer of Weidman; and many nieces and nephews She was preceded in death by her parents, John M. and Minnie M. Schafer; husband, Robert Keusch (2010); daughters, Diann Latham (2012) and Margaret Maggie Gross (2012); two grandsons, Brent Olson and Brian Rau; father of her children, William Stewart; and brother-in-law, Andy Tschappat. The family extends a special thank you to Prestige Centre and Great Lakes Caring Hospice for the compassionate care shown to Gertie. To leave a condolence for the family or to sign the online guest book please visit www.charlesrlux.com