Gerry Magda Ascher was born in Minneapolis, Mn on May 20, 1925. We called her Mom, Grandma, GG, and Junger. She was the epitome of a generous spirit, always giving to others. Gerry grew up during the depression. While her father had a good job as a crane operator unloading rail cars for the Soo Line Railroad, money was tight in the Northeast Minneapolis neighborhood. Her mother put cardboard in her shoes when the soles were worn to stretch them a bit longer. And she made almost all of Gerry’s clothes. Gerry would run errands for her Grandma who would reward her with bread and butter with sugar sprinkled on the top. She grew up learning to be frugal which was a trait that served her well throughout life. She and Jim worked hard to buy the house in Richfield and raised 7 children in a small house that gradually expanded as the family grew. Her father loved to fish and would take her fishing for hours and she vowed never to be in a boat fishing again, and that never happened.
Gerry was a great teacher, teaching by example. Her generosity of time was a great model for us. She shared her exquisite needlework talent with gifts of knitting and quilted items. She spent many hours sewing prom dance dresses for the girls into the night. Her generosity of spirit was boundless. She was always there for you, weather you needed a dog sitter, baby sitter or just a friend.
Mom taught her seven kids to drive a car that had manual transmission. She was patient beyond belief. She made sure they all had swimming lessons, getting them to the Navy and Richfield pools. Mom was the ultimate “Uber” for all the kids driving them to school, jobs, sporting events, and dances, and she loved music. There are ticket stubs for performances to the Minneapolis Symphony in her high school scrapbook. She was a subscriber to Orchestra Hall, Civic theater and played her Bose radio every day.
Mom loved animals and her dogs: Tanner, Mason and Alex and all the other dogs in the family. She always said she wished she had grown up on a farm. Mom embraced and practiced her faith throughout her life. She was baptized in NE Mpls at St. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, a Slavic community. Her first communion was made at St. Clement’s Church where she also married Jim. Gerry kept her Polish traditions alive by making wonderful pierogi and poppyseed bread. A trip to Kramarczuk’s was her favorite!
She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Jim; parents, Julius and Helen Magda; step-grandchild, Chris Selchow; and sister, Connie Magda. Survived by children, Corinne (John) Shepherd, Therese Adams, Mark (Melissa Maude) Ascher, Kathryn (Steve) Selchow, Chris (Susan) Ascher, Michael (Erin) Ascher and Elizabeth Stroner; grandchildren, Jim Shepherd, John, Alexis and Ben Ascher, Michael & Nicholas Selchow, Joe & Will Ascher, and Catherine Stroner; step-grandchildren, John & Patrick Pfeiffer; great-grandson, Declan Shepherd. Mass of Christian Burial 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2019. The Church of St. Richard, 7540 Penn Ave S, Richfield, MN 55423. Visitation one hour prior to service only, Luncheon to follow. Memorials preferred to the Church of St. Richard or Pet Haven of MN, https://pethavenmn.org/