Gerrits, Martha

Other Events:

• Obituary: Aft 18 Jul 2008

Notes:

Obituary:
Martha Nicholson was at peace when she passed away Friday, July 18, 2008, in the presence of her family. She was born March 22, 1925, in Amery, Wis., to George and Regina (Van Asten) Gerrits. Martha married William Nicholson and they raised two sons, Terry and Rob.
Martha founded Sunshine Travel in 1976, owning and operating the independent travel agency. As an active advocate for women in business, Martha helped launch the careers of many individuals in the travel industry.
Some of the many accolades and awards she received include the 1981 Ms Travelage MidAmerica, the 1983 Green Bay Business Woman of the Year, the 1989 Chamber of Commerce Athena Award, Top 50 Women Owned Business by the Wisconsin Department of Labor for 14 years (1990-2004), voted #1 Travel Agency in Northeastern Wisconsin by the Press-Gazette in 1991, voted Best of the Bay by readers of the Press-Gazette in 2007 and 2008, member of Who's Who in U.S.A. Business in 1992, 1993 Entrepreneur of the Year by Zonta International, 1994 #1 Travel Agency in Northeastern Wisconsin, the 1997 Small Business Person of the Year by the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce and the 1999 Outstanding Fellowship Award by the De Pere Rotary Club.
Some of her professional affiliations include the Board of Directors for the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and Cerebral Palsy Inc., membership in the Women of Vision, Kiwanis, Rotary International, Zonta, TEMPO, the Green Bay PBX Telecommunicators, the De Pere Business Association, the De Pere Women's Club, the Heart Fund, Muscular Dystrophy, Girl Scouts, Encompass Childhood, the Green Bay area and the U.S. Chambers of Commerce. She was active in community service with the United Way, the Boys and Girls Club, the American Cancer Society and the Wisconsin Women's Entrepreneurs. Martha was a longtime member of St. Joseph Parish.
Survivors include two sons, Terry, De Pere and his special friend, Jim Locander; Rob, Green Bay and his special friend, Debbie Sedlar; three grandchildren, Tony and his special friend, Melissa Dumas, Melissa and her special friend, Adam Desterheft, Molly; one brother and his wife, Roy and Sylvia Gerrits; sisters, Geneva VerHeyden and Anna Mae Wagner; sisters-in-law, Norma Gerrits and Ester Gerrits; many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, George and Regina Gerrits; three brothers, Sylvester, Alvin and Willard Gerrits; and a sister, Margaret Kropp.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Blaney Funeral Home, 1521 Shawano Ave. A Parish Wake Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Friends may also call from 10 to 11 Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, corner of 9th St. and 12 Ave. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Howard.
To send online condolences, please visit www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.
In honor of Martha's memory, Sunshine Travel offices in Green Bay and De Pere will be closed Tuesday, July 22.
The family would like to thank Dr. Ray Bachhuber, the thoughtful and caring staff of Rennes Health Center for their kindness and compassion, the staff and chaplains at Aurora Hospital, Fr. Rowland De Peaux, O. Praem., the devoted services of Maryann Zastrow, all the loyal associates of Sunshine Travel and her sister, Anne.

Martha married Nicholson, William [Group Sheet]