Geraldine E. Kozel Memorial Scholarship

Geraldine E. Kozel, 84, died March 31, 2012, at Kavanagh House Hospice in Des Moines, IA and this scholarship was established in her memory by family and friends. Gerry was born in 1927, in Lodi, WI, to Ralph and Bertha (Weast) Densmore of the Town of West Point. She worked on her family’s farm and later as the “hired girl” for a neighbor family from age 12. After graduating from Lodi High School at age 16, she worked in Lodi for Earl Hillestad in the Gamble Store. When she turned 18 she attended cosmetology school in Madison, and later worked at Oscar Mayer for 7 years. She married Merle Knuteson in 1948, and had a daughter, Karen. In 1955, she married James Kozel. Gerry gained a step-daughter, Kathryn, and gave birth to a son, James. For more than 20 years, Gerry and Jim together owned and operated Lodi’s Jimmie’s Supper Club. They sold Jimmie’s in 1967, and bought a farm in Portage, where they became involved in raising and racing quarter horses. During this time Gerry also worked part-time at The Owl’s Nest in Poynette. In time the farm was sold, and they moved back to Lodi until Jim’s untimely death in 1977. Gerry then moved to Middleton and worked until retirement as one of “the ice cream ladies” at Babcock Hall. After retiring from the State of WI, she worked at Fitzgerald’s supper club for 12 years. Gerry moved to Cannery Row in Waunakee in 2004, and a year ago to Wesley Acres in Des Moines, IA. Gerry took up golf in 1977, and was an avid player-enthusiast for many years. She proudly displayed her hole-in-one trophy earned in 1993.