Obituary

Obituary
Geraldine June Sjostrom, 98, of Rockford, Illinois, peacefully passed away at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center in Rockford, Illinois on February 1, 2021; after a long battle with Dementia, she succumbed to Covid-19. Gerry was born on June 30, 1922 to Lynn and Godfrey Berg in Morris, Illinois. After Gerry graduated from Maine Township High School in Park Ridge, Ill she pursued multiple degrees. Gerry received her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Chicago. She also attended The American Music Conservatory in Chicago Illinois to earn her Bachelors of Music with a Major in Piano and a Masters of Music with a Major in Music. She really enjoyed being a part of her music Fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota. Gerry moved to Rockford to teach Middle School when she met Richard Sjostrom Jr. and they were married July, 1962. They had 2 children, Janet Sjostrom Henderson and Gary Sjostrom. She was an active member in 1st Evangelical Covenant Church. She was also a member of the International Sister to Sister Chapter V PEO and the Mendelssohn Club in Rockford. Gerry enjoyed teaching piano to her students and she was very passionate about classical music and philanthropy. Gerry and Richard retired to Sebring, Florida for almost 30 years. After her husband, Dick passed she moved back to Rockford to Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center.
She is survived by her daughter, Janet (Tommy) Henderson; granddaughter, Sarah (Daniel) Grimm; grandson, Brian Gebo; and great grandson, Brandon Grimm. Gerry was predeceased by her husband Richard Sjostrom Jr.; son, Gary Sjostrom; parents, Lynn and Godfrey Berg; and sister, Marjorie Long. The family would like to extend a very special thank you to Paula Rasanen, Candy, Carol and Dan Shoudy and to her comfort keepers Cristy Kuhnel and Carol Clark, Illinois and the staff of Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center, Illinois.
A walk-through visitation will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 15, 2021 at Olson Funeral Home, 1001 2nd Ave. Rockford, IL. A private family burial will be held at Scandinavian Cemetery. To view the recorded family service, please visit the Tribute Wall of this obituary. Memorials can be made to Carpenter’s Place, 1149 Railroad Ave. Rockford, Il 61104, www.carpentersplace.org