Obituary: Geraldine "Gerri" M. Bower

Geraldine "Gerri" Marie Bower (née Thieme), 78, of Hilbert, Wisconsin, passed away at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton on Monday, July 13, 2026. Surrounded by her loving family, she left behind a legacy of deeply rooted love on what was her 58th wedding anniversary. Born on March 28, 1948, in Colby, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of the late Franklin and Dorothy (née Nelson) Thieme.

On July 13, 1968, Gerri married the love of her life, Brent A. Bower, in Colby, Wisconsin. They shared 58 beautiful years of marriage, building a home and a legacy side by side. Together, they owned and operated Bower Auto Paints and Parts in Appleton and Kaukauna for 20 years.

From raising tropical fish to antique clock repair, Gerri’s interests were as varied as they were unique. Ultimately, she was always a farm girl at heart, and her greatest passion remained gardening. She nurtured her family with the same quiet care and devotion she gave to her gardens, cultivating deep roots and a harvest of beautiful memories that her loved ones will continue to tend in their own lives.

Her life will forever be cherished in the lives of her family. She is survived by her devoted husband, Brent; her daughters, Gina Bower (Eric Basler), Stacey Bower (Chris Sacotte), and Jaime (Pete) Halbach. She was the proud and loving grandmother to Maddie (Thomas) Holzer, Liv Halbach (Dustin Roberts), Megan Steffes (Franco Rumayor-Capetillo), Julian Steffes (Taylor Karpinske), and Carson (Angelina) Sacotte; and an adoring great-grandmother to Isla and Lucas Holzer.

A celebration of Gerri’s life will be held at a later date.