Geraldine M. Talich

Geraldine M. Talich, 95 of Sidney, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2015 at the Sidney Regional Medical Center Extended Care.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 15, in the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Hyde officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Thursday from 1 to 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in Geraldine's name to First United Methodist Church Care/Share or the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics, POB 608, Downers Grove, IL 60515-0608. You may view Geraldine's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Geraldine's care and funeral arrangements.

Geraldine Mae Talich, the daughter of Leslie and Mae (Lewis) Cruise was born on May 18, 1919 in Ogallala. They lived there and in the Kearney area until 1928 when the family moved to a farm north of Sidney. She attended a rural school in that area and graduated from Sidney High School in 1935. Geraldine attended Kearney State College (UNK) and later received her BA Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. Her teaching experience included a rural school and Potter Elementary School. During World War II, she taught in the High School in Sunol and at East Ward School in Sidney. She also worked at that time as Voucher Clerk for the Post Engineers at the Sioux Army Depot. Starting in 1961, Geraldine taught for twelve years in the Sidney Elementary Schools. On May 24, 1942, she was united in marriage in Sidney to Lloyd E. Talich of Lodgepole. In 1945, after Lloyd was discharged from the Army Air Force, they moved to their farm north of Sidney where she remained until 2013.

Geraldine was an eighty plus year member of the First United Methodist Church in Sidney. She was active in the life of the church throughout her life. She was a Past President of the United Methodist Women, Past Matron of the Order of Eastern Star and Past President of the Past Matrons Club. Geraldine was a Past Regent of Daughters of the American Revolution and a member of PEO Chapter BO. She was a member of Lodgepole Valley Shrine Auxiliary, a former member of Delta Kappa Gamma Women's Teacher's Society and a fifty plus year member of the North Sidney Club. Geraldine also served on the Board of Directors of the Cheyenne County Historical Association for six years.

Geraldine enjoyed nurturing the yard, the flowers and trees of her farm home but also she made time for extensive reading. She enjoyed writing and completed three books of family history. She wrote "50 Years, We Have Seen It All". She presented the story to her family on the couples 50th Wedding Anniversary. She wrote of the couples lives in "What Happened to Bring Us Together" and also completed a book for her grandchildren titled "The Story of a Life Time". Geraldine also authored a number of cookbooks and considered her computer and John Deere Lawn Mower the toys of her golden years.

Her devotion to her husband and her family was her highest priority. Geraldine was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd, her parents and (1) brother: Ray Cruise and his wife Marguerite. Survivors include her children: Gary Talich and wife Sharon of Grant, Larry Talich and wife Wanda of Sidney and Suzanne Solano of Lincoln; (6) grandchildren: Renee Seiler, Clinton Solano, Lance Talich, Douglas Talich, Travis Solano and Kristin Simmons; (10) great-grandchildren; (1) sister: Kathleen Edwards and husband Jim and many nieces, nephews and extended family members.