Germaine Marie (Rivet) Mix, 88, a resident of Eureka, was called peacefully home to heaven with her daughter and son-in-law at her side on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Germaine was born on April 8, 1937, in Coleman, Wisc. to the late Edward Rivet and Delima (Woulf) Rivet.

Germaine married William John Mix on October 14, 1961, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Coleman, Wisc. He preceded her in death on April 10, 1981.

After a brief time in Milwaukee, Germaine and William settled in Menomonee Falls, Wisc., where they raised their family. In Menomonee Falls, Germaine worked as an office manager/receptionist for Dr. Lee Dannenberg, ophthalmologist, and later as a receptionist/medical assistant at Medical Associates. After retirement in 2004, she lived in Wauwatosa, DePere and Oconto Falls before relocating to Eureka in late 2013 to be closer to her daughter and her family.

Gerry was raised on their family farm in Coleman, Wisc., with her sisters, Audrey and Marie, and her two brothers, Allen and Don. She had many stories of the farm work that she and her siblings assisted with: picking rocks from the field, bailing hay, cutting corn, caring for the farm animals and harvesting produce from the garden. Some of her favorite times were spent when family and neighbors came to their farm to complete a large task. Gerry’s mother Delima, would prepare a generous meal for everyone. The kids would play as the adults worked; those were treasured times for all the kids as time spent together was rare.

She talked often of enjoying time with the Woulf side of the family, putting on “amateur shows” as part of family gatherings to entertain the adults. She would sing with her sister Marie; Gerry sang harmony while Audrey and Allen played the guitar. Gerry never lost her love of music and spent a great deal of time enjoying a variety of genres.

One of her fondest memories was coming home from school to a home smelling of homemade bread almost every day and enjoying some warm from the oven. Of course she had many stories of walking to school in the cold winter months for miles in the snow often laughing at the lack of warm winter gear we have today. All of those experiences made her the strong, independent lady she was throughout her life. She enjoyed school and graduated from Coleman High School in 1955. She was prom queen her junior year of high school in 1954.

Following high school Gerry moved to Green Bay to live in an apartment with her cousins and work at the Northern Paper Mill. She met her husband Bill and initially settled in Detroit, Michigan. She missed home and her family, so they swiftly moved back to Wisconsin, living in an apartment in Wauwatosa where she and Bill started their family. They settled and raised their family in Menomonee Falls, remaining close to her sister Marie and her family. The sisters kept their families close sharing holiday meals, celebrating achievements and milestones as well as enjoying Sunday dinners consistently and enjoyed just being family. Gerry and Marie talked almost daily discussing family events and keeping current in the lives of their extended family. She prayed for everyone through her years and was deeply moved by the current local and world news.

Despite her move to California in 2013 when she was 76 years old, her heart remained in Wisconsin. She adored time spent with her sisters, nieces, daughter and daughter-in-law in Door County, Wisc., one of her most treasured places on earth. Many of us hold so many happy memories of those times. She loved visiting special places like Kelly Lake, the family farm, schools and churches she had attended. She enjoyed attending her class reunions and catching up with family and friends.

She adored traveling; she loved the beauty and the peacefulness of the mountains. She traveled to Yosemite, Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park and Crater Lake, to name a few. Another favorite place was Jenny Lake in the Grand Teton National Park. She enjoyed listening to music and watching the scenery while looking for wildlife. She remained a loyal Green Bay Packer fan throughout her life among a sea of San Francisco fans. She remained true to the green and gold! Gerry loved making puzzles; (the family rule is no greater than 1000 pieces :-) reading and playing cards. Cribbage and Scrabble were two of her favorites. She loved painting pottery, painting rocks, bowling and playing golf in her younger years. She enjoyed trying new recipes through her life; entertaining and making special dinners and treats for family always served with a beautiful table setting. She enjoyed visiting with friends and attending local events. She loved walking the dog most dear to her heart, Luna Star. She is now taking her on heavenly walks as they are together in heaven. She enjoyed attending church services at the Faith Center as she focused on her relationship with GOD. She appreciated and enjoyed the worship music that set the tone for the sermon.

None of life’s adventures would compare to the love she had for her grandson Hayden. Her move to California was to be able to share in his life and play an active role in his care; and that she did! She loved teaching him, laughing with him on adventures and cherished each special milestone as he grew up. She devoted much of her time cheering for him at all of his sporting events: baseball, basketball, BMX biking and watching him ride his dirt bike. She was only kept home with severe weather, like rain, wind and cold. She sat in the front row and all could hear her cheering him on. She enjoyed supporting Hayden through his years of school and participated in fundraising events to support not only Hayden, but many of his friends. She arrived here in California as Gerry Mix. But as the years passed and her love for Hayden and his friends and their families grew she became known to all lovingly as “Grammy Gerry.” She loved watching Hayden and his friends grow up through the years. She attended plays and sporting events to support each one of them with encouraging words and hugs.

Thank you to all of our friends and family that were so caring and supportive of Grammy Gerry through her years here with us. She adored her name and her role as Grammy to each and every one of you. Grammy Gerry is greatly missed- her smile, her giving spirit and her constant support for each one of us. We pray she is peacefully in her heavenly home watching over those she loves and enjoying the beauty of heaven.

Germaine is survived by her son David (Marilyn) Mix of Wausau, Wisc.; daughter, Jean (Michael) Flynn of Eureka; son, Paul (Rachel) Mix of Tulsa, Okla.; sisters, Audrey Rhode and Marie Janik of Oconto Falls, Wisc.; brother, Donald Rivet (Judy) of Green Bay, Wisc.; grandchildren Connie Mix, Billy Mix and Hayden Flynn as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her parents and husband, Germaine was preceded in death by her brother, Allen Rivet; sister-in-law, Patricia Rivet; brothers-in-law, Ransom (Buck) Rhode and Donald Janik.

We would like to thank Hospice of Humboldt for their support not only for Gerry, but for our family. Your guidance and care was amazing and made each day easier allowing us to focus on our time together.

We would also like to thank Gerry’s special caregivers Megan and Jennie. You were both angels to us! Your kindness, professional care and loving personalities truly carried us through. You are so very appreciated and loved.

In lieu of owers, donations can be made in Germaine’s name to Hospice of Humboldt.

Services for Germaine will be held

July 25, 2025

Rhode’s-Charapata Funeral Home and Cremation
235 E Main Street, Coleman, Wisc. 54112
Visitation: 1 p.m.
Service: 2 p.m.

August 6th, 2025

Faith Center Foursquare Church
1032 Bay Street
Eureka, CA 95501
Visitation: 10:30 a.m.
Celebration of Life 11 a.m.
Refreshments to follow