Gertrude Helen Shiemke

Gertrude (Trudy) Helen Shiemke, age 94, passed away on January 11, 2024. She was born November 7, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan, to her late parents, John and Eva Schroeder. Trudy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Andy. She is survived by her loving children: Rebecca (David Guilford) Shiemke, Drew (Kim) Shiemke, Chris (Debbie) Shiemke, and Jeremy (Jennifer) Shiemke; dear grandchildren: Hannah, Josh, John, Adam, Kyle, Ana, Veronica, Andrew, Brendan, and Ryan; and four great-grandchildren. Trudy was also preceded in death by her siblings: John, Joe, Ann, and Rosie.

Memorial visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 18, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Kaul Funeral Home, 28433 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores.

A memorial mass will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 19, at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, 5900 McClellan Ave., Detroit 48213 followed by a light lunch at Cabbage Patch Café, 15110 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe Park.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made out to Gleaners Food Bank and mailed to Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church (address above). All donations will be contributed to the Nativity food pantry, which Trudy actively supported.

Trudy was a graduate of Grosse Pointe High School and attended Wayne State University. Although she never received a degree, she had a life-long love of learning, including all of her courses, from Greek Mythology to Women’s Studies. Trudy worked for many years as an administrative assistant at the Merrill-Palmer Institute at Wayne State University and prior to that for the United Auto Workers. She was an active member of Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church in Detroit and worked to support the church and its surrounding community.

Trudy warmly welcomed each of her children’s spouses and children and treated each as a new member of her family. She loved to draw her family together for holidays and other occasions. She initiated spring trips to Gulf Shores, Alabama, a tradition that lasted for approximately 20 years. Trudy planned birthday dinners for every family member including her children and grandchildren and insisted on perfect attendance. She insisted that all her children learn to cook and to help the effort, she taught and shared her favorite recipes. When her health prevented her from cooking for herself, she relished home-cooked meals from her children.

Trudy cherished one decades-long group of friends, fondly referred to as the "E" group, all friends from early days at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church. Another was friends from Nativity with whom she traveled and went to Detroit Tigers games. Trudy loved camping, traveling, beaches anywhere, gardening and reading.

Trudy/Mom/Grams, you are loved and will be missed.

Recollections of Trudy Shiemke

Some Thought About My Mom

By Her Son (Drew)

She was always the heart and soul of her family, but especially so after Dad died. She loved traveling and visiting friends and family with Dad, fondly recalling their trips many years later. She was devastated by Dad’s death but continued traveling the country and world as long as she was able.

She was intensely devoted to her family and very supportive of her children. But that support was not unqualified; she had high expectations of us and was not shy about letting us know when we did not live up to those expectations. I think we all became better people for it. I know I did.

She was not shy about criticizing her kids but would not stand for anyone else doing so. Woe betides anyone badmouthing her children; a sure way to get on her shit-list. And once on that shit-list, you may never come off. The woman could hold a grudge with the best of them.

Her grandchildren were a different story – they were beyond reproach, and I never heard her utter a single negative word about any of them.

She loved to watch Jeopardy. When visiting from out of town we always stayed with her, and dinner had to be done by 7:30 so we could watch it. In fact, a couple weeks before her death she was still shouting answers at Ken Jennings (whom she compared negatively to Alex Trebek almost every night).

She also loved to watch Tiger baseball, and MSU, U of M, & Pistons basketball with me. At least I think she did; maybe she was only humoring me.

She was a great cook and had impeccable taste in interior décor.

She also had a remarkable memory. You could ask her, “Hey Mom, who co-starred with Bette Davis in Now Voyager (1942)”. She would immediately reply “Paul Henreid and Claude Rains” (which I only know because I looked it up just now on IMDB.com). More often than not, she would also tell you who the director was and whether it was a big hit or a flop at the time of its release.

She lived by the dictum of “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable”, always going out of the way to help those in need. This included the staff at America House, who truly liked and admired her.

She was a tremendous friend to me and to so many others, and I will truly miss her.

From the Nativity of Our Lord newsletter

By Anne Crowe

Trudy was a volunteer here before I started working here almost 26 years ago. She was our Christian Service Chair, St. Vincent de Paul President, Pantry Volunteer, she started the Peace & Justice Group, was Fundraiser Chair for the Dinner/Silent Auctions many times and so many other things.

She was an advocate for the less fortunate and taught many others how to help those in need. I always have said if I was half as good as Trudy is, I'd still be doing a good job assisting those in need.