- Date Of Birth: February 3, 1920
- Date Of Death: March 29, 2013
- State: Michigan
Gertrude Anna (Ost) Childs, 93, formerly of Three Oaks, Michigan died Wednesday evening, March 27, 2013, at Woodland Terrace in Bridgman, Michigan.
She was born February 3, 1920 in Grosz Shwirzin, Pommeron, Germany to Karl and Louise (Zuhl) Ost.
When she was five the entire family emigrated to the United States and became a part of the original “Sand Rabbits”, settling in Saint Joseph. Subsequently, the last daughter was born. The family totaled seven. After graduation from Saint Joseph High School, Gertrude’s first job was at Auto Specialties, where she began her love of sports, playing on their woman’s baseball team. Then she started bowling and began her lifelong passion for golf, which led to 4 hole-in-ones.In 1938, Gertrude married Karl (Mickey) Hingst. They partnered with his brother in the ownership and operation of the North Shore Inn.
Gertrude went to work at the Berrien County Court House for Hank Kesterke. There she was introduced to Attorney Theron Childs as a golf partner. It became much more of a partnership and they were married in 1972. They both loved traveling and golf. She also loved reading and playing cards, especially Gin Rummy. An excellent cook, Gertrude relished parties, holidays, and any excuse to bring happiness into our lives. She always made life easier for those she cared for and never met anyone she did not care for. Gertrude was known to her friends as Gertie and to her family as Trudy. Although she had no children, she mothered all of us and was a perfect “go-to person” for all our trials and tribulations. She will be deeply missed.
Survivors include her sister, Frieda Marceau; her sister-in-law, Kaye Ost; step-children, Theron “Terry” D. Childs III, Ann Gray and Jeffery Childs; her nephews, Harry Marceau II and Thomas Ost; nieces Barbara Sweet, Mary Holly Barra, and Betty Ann Kesterke, who was her guardian; and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Theron “Ted” D. Childs, Jr.; her ex-husband Karl Hingst; her parents, Karl and Louise (Zuhl) Ost; her brother Walter Ost; her sisters, Gerda Kesterke and Louise Undem and her niece Annette (Marceau) Bird.Funeral
