Gertrude Mae Dressler, 83, of Wagner

Her funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 23, 2014 at the United Methodist Church in Wagner. Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 7 PM with the family present from 6 to 7 at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner.

Gertrude Mae (Stratton) Dressler passed away on Monday, May 19, 2014 at her home under hospice care, as a result of a long respiratory illness. She was born November 30, 1930 in Madison, SD to Howard and Bernice (Cline) Stratton. In 1941 she moved with her family to Marion, SD and graduated Salutatorian in 1949. Gertrude went to beauty school in 1951 and owned her own salon in Marion and in Wagner, SD and was recognized for her talents by winning several national hair styling awards and was the South Dakota Cosmetologist of the year in 1968. She married Gene Dressler on November 30, 1961 and moved to Wagner, SD where she has lived ever since.

Gertrude was very active in the South Dakota State Hairdressers and Cosmetology Association where she served as its president from 1966 until 1968 and was also the executive secretary for 6 years. She worked as a South Dakota State Board Inspector for 34 years in the southeastern part of SD where she inspected beauty salons. She was also very active in the Republican Party and enjoyed taking part in the national and local elections as an election official in Charles Mix County. She enjoyed her time with her sisters and daughters making crafts and attending craft fairs across South Dakota. Gert also enjoyed her many summers with Gene and her family at their cottage on Lake of the Woods, Canada where she loved to swim, water ski, fish and was a master at cooking "shore lunch".


Gertrude is survived by her loving husband Eugene E. Dressler, who was lucky enough to spend almost 54 years with her. She is also survived by 5 children: Jodie and husband Rich Nedved of Wagner, SD; Kim and husband Ken Weisser of Brush, CO; Michelle and husband John Magera of Sioux Falls, SD; Michael and wife Laura Dressler of Harrisburg, SD; Todd and wife Cindy Dressler of Rapid City, SD. She comes from a large family and is survived by three sisters: Joyce (Bud) Yopp of Sioux Falls, SD; Katie (Marion) Nugteren of Paw Paw, MI; Dee Dalke of Mishawaka, IN; and two brothers: Charles (Grace) Stratton of Minneapolis, MN and Jerry (Germaine) Stratton of Marion, SD; and a sister-in-law, Virginia Klepper of Great Bend, KS.

She was preceded in death by her parents Bernice and Howard Stratton, a brother Roger (Ardis) Stratton and father/mother-in-law Ernest and Caroline Dressler. She lost part of her heart when her eldest child Douglas passed away 9 years ago.

She has 20 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren who will miss her greatly. They were her love and joy. They will never forget their Grama Gertie.