Emilie B. Gerou

Emilie B. Gerou April 7, 1936- August 8, 2011

Emilie Gerou died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of August 8th, 2011 at age 75 after a long struggle to regain her health. Beloved mother of Lenore Ceizyk (from her early marriage to Edward M. Ceizyk), Nannette Marie Gerou, Denise Joy Gerou, and Steven Jon Gerou (from her marriage to Alfred Lawrence Gerou). In addition to her children, she is survived by her grandchildren: Nannette’s son, Billy Daniel Sizemore and Denise’s children: Christopher Lawrence (Back), Ezekiel Alfonzo (Blevins), and Breanna Lace (Franklin), as well as her great-grandchild, Breanna’s daughter, Travaya Cherish Franklin (Bullock), who — in Emilie’s last days — brought such joy to her.

Emilie was born in Escanaba, Michigan to Evelyn (nee LaBay) and Arthur Sauvoy, where she learned to enjoy row-boating and ice-skating. She moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin in high school and graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School in 1954, a proud and active member of the audio-visual club and the newspaper under Ms. Tenuta. She was an operator for the telephone company in the late 1950’s; a homemaker, baker, and back-yard farmer in the early 1960’s; and a bread-winner beginning in the 1970’s and on. Emilie was a respected technical illustrator in the Dayton, Ohio area as well as a mother, Girl Scout leader, and, after the death of her husband Larry in 1979, the sole support of the family, working at Black-Clawson in Middletown, Ohio. She moved the family to Robin Springs Apartments in Blue Ball and then to the McPherson Town neighborhood in Dayton, where she was an active member of the Dayton Historical Society prior to retuning to Kenosha. Meanwhile, she also practiced oil painting and sculpture, often taking classes at the local college. After returning to Wisconsin, she held freelance positions in her field. In recent years, she worked for the Department of Aging and Arabian World Fest in Milwaukee.

Emilie will be cremated by Suminski Funeral Home, and her ashes will be distributed according to her wishes — some with her husband Larry in Ohio, some with her parents Arthur and Evelyn (nee LaBay) Sauvoy in Escanaba, and some on a horse-back riding trip with her daughters. A celebration of Emilie’s life will be held at the home of her eldest daughter on the afternoon of Saturday, August 20. It will include a memorial service at 2:00. If desired, memorials in Emilie’s memory are suggested to: Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee, 201 S. Hawley Ct. Milwaukee, WI 53214. Please note on your check that your donation is in memory of Emilie Gerou.