Geraldine “Gerry” Kauth, age 90, passed away at Arbor Trail Nursing Home on May 5, 2025 after a lengthy illness. Born to Warren and Alice Winkler in Chicago in 1934, Alice died when Gerry was 2 years old. In 1949, her parents, Warren and Irene Winkler and family moved to Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Gerry graduated from Lincoln High School and 1952 and married Thomas J. Chrystal, and electric company Wire Chief and Christmas tree farmer in 1953. Mr. Chrystal died in 1975. She married James Kauth in 1978. He survives as do her sons, John Chrystal of Florida and Robert Chrystal of Missouri. Three sons, William, Thomas Jr. and James preceded her in death. Survivors also include a brother, Warren Winkler, and sisters, Carol Finup and Willa Brener, and her husband Bill, all of Wisconsin. She also leaves behind three stepsons, Steve Kauth, Michael Kauth, and William Kauth, and two stepdaughters, Jennifer Machon and Cynthia Kauth-Dupree, “The Little Girl She Never Had” (deeply loved) and Sterling Dupree.
Gerry, James and two sons moved to the Missouri-Arkansas border in 1979 where she raised laying hens, fryers, and rabbits and her usual big garden. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Blue Eye, Arkansas. While there, she obtained her Missouri Insurance License and was an agent and secretary for three agencies in Aurora and Republic, MO. Moving to the Springfield, MO area in the late 1980’s, she enjoyed her bowling team, the Ballroom Dance Club, The Downtown Little Theatre and the Missouri State University Summer Tent Theatre.
Moving to Citrus County in 1996, she loved the bike trail, swimming, sewing, knitting and helped cook many meals at the Stoneridge Clubhouse. She was a longtime and active member of Good Shepherd ELCA Church in Hernando serving as an usher and helping to lead the Quilting Ladies until her illness. She was a blood bank volunteer and donor, an Election Poll Worker and a Lakes Region Library Volunteer of the Year.
For many springs, she and her parasol were part of the strutters in “Eddies Second-Line Gang” under the Dixieland Jazz Tent at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. (A highlight of her life!) For a few summers, she could be found in the second-line behind any New Orleans Jazz Band that was in The Great American Brass Band Festival Parade in Danville, KY.
Interment will be in Wood County Wisconsin. Gerry lived a very Christian and Giving Life.
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