Esther Dolores (Gutkowski) GESINKI

GESINKI, KOZLOWSKI, GUTKOWSKI, HINMAN, BROOKSHIRE, MIRR, HLAAS, SCHULTE, FULLER, NETTSHEIN, JOHN, HALSNE, BURMAN, BURNETT, KELLER, SALINAS, MARKHAM

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:52

September 23, 1915 --- December 2, 2015

Esther D. Gesinski, age 100, most recently a resident of the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond. Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 1207 Third St. N.E., Belmond. Father Jerry Blake will be officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond, and will continue one hour prior to the funeral at the church on Friday.

The family suggests memorials in Esther's memory be given to the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond, Belmond Loan Closet, or the donor's choice.

Esther Dolores Gutkowski, the daughter of Anton and Martha (Kozlowski) Gutkowski, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Sept. 23, 1915, one of 17 children to bless her parents' marriage. She attended Milwaukee area schools.

Esther was united in marriage to Edward Gesinski on June 16, 1937, at the St. Josaphat's Catholic Basilica in Milwaukee. The couple's union brought the precious gift of three children into the world including a son, Jerry, and two daughters, Carol and Nancy.

In addition to being a lifelong homemaker, Esther had been employed in assembly work for more than 20 years at Johnson Controls Inc. in Milwaukee.

Edward preceded Esther in death in 1968. Following his passing, she continued working at Johnson Services until her retirement. She eventually moved to Klemme, Iowa, at age 61 in 1976, where her daughter Carol (Bob) Hinman resided. Esther lived in Klemme and spent countless years in the loving care of her daughter until becoming a resident of the Rehabilitation Center in 2008.

One never to act her age, she truly enjoyed the numerous activities at the facilities playing bingo, dancing, and so many other events and happenings. Her warm, friendly, and lively spirit will be cherished in the hearts and minds of her family, friends, and of course the staff and residents of the care center.

Her passions in life were her family, faith, flowers, and fun. She enjoyed the simple things of her human journey. Esther loved flowers and especially roses. She was a terrific cook. Esther may have been small in stature, but her outgoing personality was enormous. Her magnetic smile, twinkling eyes, and friendly "Hello!" would brighten the day of many. Her family will hold fondly to the love and devotion she shared with each of them in her roles as a wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, sister, cousin, mother-in-law, and aunt.

Esther's legacy will be cherished in the hearts and minds of her daughters: Carol Hinman, Klemme, and Nancy (Dwight) Brookshire, Gainesville, Georgia; a brother, Bob "Bobby" (Grace) Gutkowski, Edina, Minnesota; eight grandchildren: Mary (Eric) Mirr, East Troy, WI, Pam (Mike) Hlaas, Cedar Rapids, IA, Jeff (Tamara Schulte) Hinman, Belmond, IA, Christine (John) Fuller, Charlotte, NC, Jerilynn (Jeff) Nettshein, Mukwonago, WI, Brad (Tara) John, Cummings, GA, Michael (Tonya) Halsne, Hampton, IA, and Richard (Trish Burman Halsne, Thornton, IA; seven great-grandchildren: Ike Burnett, Jessica Hinman, Lisa Hinman, Amy Keller, Amanda Salinas, Mitchell Markham and Austin Markham; three great-great-grandchildren, Layne, Emalee, and Lilliana. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Edward, son Jerry Gesinski, 15 siblings, and son-in-law Robert "Bob" Hinman.