GERDA MAKUCH, (nee Kohler), age 91, was born in Hamburg, Germany.  Gerda married her husband, Henryk Makuch, in 1950, immigrated to the United States in 1951 on the USS General J.H. McRae, and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where they became US citizens.  Gerda was a professional seamstress.  She made beautiful dresses for her young daughters, and she had the ability to make tattered clothing look like new.  Gerda loved to cook and was an excellent baker.  She enjoyed hosting Holiday dinner gatherings for her family and friends.  She enjoyed crocheting, gardening, and walking in the park.  She just loved being outdoors, especially trips to Huntington Beach, sled riding, visits to the zoo and the Cleveland Metroparks.  Gerda and Henryk were fortunate to be able to return to Germany for visits with family and loved that her family came for visits to the USA, as well.  Gerda worked at Shaker Medical Center for many years, where she met many Cleveland Browns players during that time.  She loved her Cleveland Browns, Indians and Cavaliers.  Gerda was very kind and generous, always bringing goodies and gifts to the Ford Retiree meetings, to her doctor visits, or wherever she went. Gerda and Henryk enjoyed their retirement traveling the US with their Ford Retiree friends.  Gerda's greatest joy were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Henryk Makuch, and cherished daughter, Christine Vance (Larry).  She was also preceded in death by her loving parents, Paul and Olga Kohler, brother-in-law, Heinz Jahncke, and nephew, Rolfe Jahncke, all of Hamburg, Germany.

She is survived by her loving daughter, Linda Kaczmarek (Jerome), cherished grandchildren, David Vance (Jan), Stephanie Kaczmarek (Christopher Lockwood), Jerome C. Kaczmarek, Nicholas Vance (Jennifer), and Neal Kaczmarek, (Gina).  She was Oma to her adoring great-grandchildren, Julia, Samuel, Kimberly, Emma and Hunter.  She is also survived by her loving sister, Christa Jahncke, and cherished niece, Susanne Jahncke, of Hamburg, Germany.

Family and friends are asked to meet at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 5891 Ridge Rd., Parma on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15 for a Visitation at 9:00 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 AM.   Interment Holy Cross Cemetery.