Luella Marie (Gerou) Maskart

Luella was born December 20, 1919 in Perkins, the daughter of David and Josephine (LeDuc) Gerou. She was raised in Perkins and graduated from Perkins High School as their Salutatorian. As a youth, Luella was in 4-H for 10 plus years and this is where she learned to sew. She became and expert seamstress and designer. This was a great asset when, at the age of 48, she got her Social Security card and opened the Regal Bridal Salon in Gladstone and then Escanaba. Luella loved to ice skate and did so up until the age of 80. She “Ice Waltzed” with Joseph Poluck in her teens. Luella also skied, bowled, played golf, played bridge and did charity work. After she sold her business, she painted in oil and donated numerous pictures to charities in the Delta County area.

Luella was a member of All Saints Catholic Church in Gladstone for over 80 years. In her past, Luella was a long time member of Gladstone Golf Club, where at the age of 80 years old, she had a Hole-In-One, a long time member of the Gladstone Yacht Club, 25 year member of Child’s Welfare until it dissolved, the Red Hat Society, the Bay Sages of Escanaba and two ladies Bridge Clubs that lasted over 50 years. She was their sole survivor.

In the last few years, she resided at Lakeview Assisted Living in Gladstone, which she loved. She appreciated the kindness and care of the entire staff, especially the owner, Daryl Miron. She will be remembered for her stylish dress, her positive attitude, her upbeat personality, her religious devotion and charity and of course, her hankies. Everyone knows that she loved hankies. She always had one in her hand or pocket. She collected them and passed them out to her daughters, granddaughters, great granddaughters and other family and friends.

Luella is survived by her children, Douglas (Joyce) Maskart of Santa Barbara, Calif., Cherie (Robert) Winchester of Grand Rapids, Mich., Diane (Scott) Apelgren of Rochester, Minn. and David (Paula) Maskart of Gladstone; 10 grandchildren, Robert (Jennifer) Winchester, Jr, Renee (David) Dowdy, Bradley (Stacey) Apelgren, Matthew (Tracy) Maskart, Danielle Sterling, Leah (Daryl) Miron, Dana (Jeremy) Wright, Mark (Stephanie) Maskart, Aaron Maskart, and Natanya Maskart; 18 great grandchildren, Carson and Kate Winchester, Lauren, Lindsey and Luke Dowdy, Wyatt, Nolan and Everleigh Apelgren, Clara, Owen and Garritt Maskart, Blake and Allison Lesneski, Taylor and Maelle Wright and Cooper, Camden and Brooks Maskart and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rene, her parents and 16 brothers and sisters, Walter, Arthur, Alvina Robitaille, Ethel Michaels, I’one, Earl, Eileen Roche, Bessie Gerou, Lucille Gerou, Lillian Blossom, Gladys Finkbinder, Wallace, Kenneth, Stanley, Douglas and Timothy.

The family will receive friends on Friday, April 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 p.m. at All Saints Catholic Church. Luella will be laid to rest in the Fernwood Cemetery.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Masks and social distancing are required at the funeral home and All Saints Catholic Church.

For additional information or to leave the family a message of condolence, go to www.Skradski funeral homes.com.