GERTRUDE ADELHEID DOWLING

She was born to Edward and Maria Nikiel of Vienna, Austria on Dec. 21, 1926, where she met and married Donald J. Dowling and then moved to Alpena. Donald and Gertrude were married until Donald passed away in 2016.

She raised five children: Evelyn Dowling, Sylvia (Lynn) Switzer, Cynthia (Timothy) Troxel, Donald J. Dowling Jr. and Edward (Laurie) Dowling.

She has three grandchildren. Andrew Switzer, Mark (Heidi) Werda, Amber (John) Crawford and three great-grandchildren, Angel Switzer, Maria and Liam Crawford.

Gertrude was a very kind person who loved life and loved her family. She enjoyed painting and listening to classical music and also spent time as an American Red Cross volunteer (Gray Lady) at what once was Alpena General Hospital. She worked for the Alpena Public Schools as a playground assistant, and spent most of her time making sure that her family felt loved.

Preceding her in death are her husband, mother, father, and her sister Maria.

Gertrude’s celebration of life will be held on Sept. 24, 2022, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Alpena Yacht Club. Arrangements have been made by the Bannan Funeral Home.

Interment: Holy Cross Cemetery

Memorials: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Hospice of Michigan