Gertrude Balsman

UNIONTOWN, Mo. -- Gertrude C. Balsman, 105, of Uniontown died July 31, 2010, at Perry County Memorial Hospital.

She was born in Uniontown on April 24, 1905, daughter of the late John E. and Philomena Josephine Winschel Unterreiner. She and Leo A. Balsman were married Oct. 23, 1922. He preceded her in death Feb. 25, 1972.

Mrs. Balsman was a phone operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Apple Creek, Ladies Sodality and Tuesday morning Ladies Bowling League. She was a quilter and made afghans.

Survivors include a son and two daughters, Anna Marie (Bernard) Ernst of Perryville, Mo., Leo A. (Carol Ann) Balsman Jr. of Apple Creek, Mo., and Jean A. (Bob) Buerck of Perryville; 27 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two sons, Joseph and Edgar; a daughter, Wiltrudis Kohfeld; three brothers, Herman, Rudolph and Adolph; and three sisters, Louise Trapp, Rose Ertzfeld and Bertha Ponder.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. today at and from 6:30 to 9 a.m. Tuesday at Young and Sons Funeral Home in Perryville. She will then be taken to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Apple Creek for Mass at 10 a.m., with the Revs. Tony Dattilo and Jim Unterreiner co-officiating.

Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Catholic wake service will be at 7 p.m. today. Rosary will be Tuesday at 8:15 a.m.

Memorials are preferred to St. Joseph Catholic Church or Birthright.