Lydia Martha Gierach

Lydia Martha (Schult) Gierach, 96, formally of Merrill, passed away Sunday, July 29, 2018 in her apartment at Island Shores Senior Living in Neenah, WI. Lydia was born March 12, 1922 in the Town of Scott, WI. She was the daughter of the late Frank and Augusta (Bartenhagen) Schult. She married Harold Gierach on September 7, 1940. After their marriage, Harold and Lydia moved to the Town of Scott to help take care of the Schult dairy farm. During the off season, Harold and Lydia worked at the former Merrill Candy Company. Lydia attended Beauty School in Wausau. In 1963, Lydia and Harold built a home on Cedar Street in Merrill and the farm was sold. They included a beauty salon in their plans and she ran Lydia’s Beauty Salon from 1963 until her retirement. The salon was the largest in Merrill employing up to seven stylists. After retirement, Lydia continued to style hair for many years going into people’s homes because they were unable to travel to a salon. She routinely cooked meals for friends and neighbors, but her favorite past time was dancing cheek-to-cheek with Harold, the love of her life. Survivors include one daughter, Darlene (John) Winter, of Greendale, WI, one son, Brian (Deanna) Gierach of Combined Locks, WI; four grandchildren, Joe (Jeanne) Winter, Tom (Sandra) Winter, Justin (Beth) Gierach, and Anne Gierach; seven great-grandchildren, Amanda, Matthew, Hannah, and Michael Winter and Liam, Sophia, and Ava Gierach; and two sisters-in-law, Bernice Lampe of Madison, WI and Dorothy Gierach of Orland Park, IL and many other nieces and nephews. Lydia was preceded in death by her husband of 73 years, Harold Gierach, her parents, and her siblings, Norman, August, Marie (Mootz), Leo, William, Lawrence, Walter, Ella (Schult) and Henry and many in-laws. The Funeral Service will be at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 4, 2018, at St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill. The Rev. Matthew Bless will officiate. Burial will take place in Faith Lutheran Church Cemetery – West, Town of Scott after the service. Visitation will begin at 9:00 A.M. Saturday at the church. The Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com.