Gerda Newstrom

Gerda Newstrom was born in Nurnberg, Germany on June 24, 1943, to George and Betty Schirmer. As a young girl, in war-torn Europe, Gerda attended Catholic school and spent the rest of her days with the family German Sheppard, because her father worked as a postman during the day and lead the band for the country at night - while her mother was busy creating the feather bed and owning and operating 56 businesses. As their success grew, George and Betty were able to send Gerda to the finest boarding schools, where she received a formal education and learned the ways of proper society. Gerda became a translator for the American military, where she met Kenneth R. Newstrom - a handsome young Lieutenant in the medical corps of the 61st Howitzer battalion. They were married in Nurnberg in '63, and Gerda found herself whisked to America, where they began a family comprised of two sons – Robert and Kane. While raising their boys, Gerda, who had an eye for beauty, became a fashion consultant and created the "Extra Service" program for the Lazarus and Marshal Fields department stores. When they retired, Ken and Gerda moved to Florida, where they found true happiness dancing their nights away in the Palm Beach Society. Gerda's celebration of life is September 26th from 3pm to 4pm with a short service at 3:30pm.