Obituary of Edna Gessner

Edna Mae Crall was born in Bucyrus, Ohio on September 17, 1916. She was the daughter of the late Earl and Mabel (Campbell) Crall. Edna graduated from Whetstone High School in Bucyrus and attended Maumee Valley Nursing School becoming a registered nurse in 1937. Edna began her nursing career at Mercy Hospital in 1937. This is where she would meet her future husband Clayton C. Gessner, nursing him back to health from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. The couple married on November 29, 1941. Edna left Mercy in 1967 taking a Director position for the next two years at the Monroe Convalescent Center. She would retire from nursing after spending an additional fifteen years employed by the Monroe County Health Department. Edna was quiet, sincere, kind, and always eager to lend a hand. She was dependable, reliable, an excellent caretaker and nurse. Edna voluntarily drove cancer patients to treatments until she was 80 and was a frequent Red Cross Blood Bank assistant. She served as a board member for MCOP and member of the Business and Professional Women's group. She was active at Grace Lutheran Church with the Altar Guild, Ladies Aide, Money Counter, LWML, Bible Classes, and Stephens Ministry. Edna enjoyed traveling, visiting Russia, Europe, and the Bahamas as well as much of North America. Her resilience was evident in the fact that she survived cancer eight times. Edna age 96, passed away on Sunday, September 08, 2013 at the IHM Health Care Center. In addition to her parents, her passing was preceded by husband: Clayton; brothers: Earl and Gail Crall; and sisters: Wilma and Muriel Crall. To cherish her memory she leaves two children: William (Beverly) Gessner of Monroe and Janice Marie (Richard) Lindau of Crown Point, Indiana; two grandchildren: Eric (Alisa) Gessner and Elizabeh Lindau-Dunlap (Jeff Dunlap) of Chicago; two great grandchildren: Soleil Jolee Gessner and Noah David Gessner; two nieces; and one nephew. Friends may gather from 2:00-8:00pm, Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at Merkle Funeral Service, 2442 North Monroe (734) 384-5185. She will lie-in-state from 10:00am until funeral services at 11:00am on Thursday, September 12, 2013 at Grace Lutheran Church, 630 North Monroe with procession following to Roselawn. In lieu of flowers memorial donations are suggested to the Grace Lutheran Church Altar Guild or Ladies Aide. Online guests may leave condolences, share a photo, or make a donation by visiting www.merklefs.com; Online Tributes page.