Gertrude Bohack Shelfer

Gertrude Bohack Shelfer, 91, of Bryan, passed away Tuesday, March 7, 2017, at her residence, surrounded by her children. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a rosary at 6:00 p.m. and time to share memories following on Thursday, March 9, 2017. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 10, 2017, at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bryan. Burial will follow in Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
Gertrude was born on May 6, 1925 in Chappell Hill, to Mike and Annie (Twardowski) Joswiak. She married Tony Bohack on July 13, 1942 in Chappell Hill. After Tony’s death in 1977, she married Wayne Shelfer on August 9, 1990 in Wixon Valley.
She was preceded in death by both her husbands; brothers, Max, Eddie, Steve, and Johnny Joswiak; sisters, Carrie Kapchinski, and Regina Garrett; and grandchildren, Webb Bohack and Victoria Kling.
Survivors include her children and their spouses, Lillian and David Cornelius of Houston, Leonard and Linda Bohack of Manitou Springs, Colorado, and Irene Kling, of Bryan; her grandchildren and their spouses, Devin Packer of The Woodlands, Lisa Bohack of Littleton, Colorado, Gatlin and Chanae Kling of Bryan, Brittany Kling of Houston, and Lincoln Kling of Allendale, New Jersey; her great-grandchildren, Emma, Lauren, Audrey and Aaryn; her sisters-in-law Anna and Rosie Joswiak, and an ornery alley-cat, Kitty-Tom, who is up for adoption to anyone who wants a cantankerous miniature lion.
Gertrude was a life-long card shark who habitually talked across the table, a bone-tossing domino player, an early adopter of grapevine smoking products, and enjoyed having a drink with the family during the holidays while playing spades to the wee hours of the morning. She could sew a wedding dress from a burlap sack, grow a bountiful harvest from barren ground, and cook a meal fit for a king from nothing.
Gertrude would travel any distance for whatever her family and friends needed at any time. She would also do the same to gamble however, just to keep them humble. Gertrude loved everyone she met with all her heart and never met a stranger. She never shied away from hard work, and had a smile that could melt the heart of a statue. Gertrude attended St Joseph’s Catholic Church for 66 years, and was an active member of the Women’s Guild and the Age Managers.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bryan, or Hospice Brazos Valley.