Obituaries

Gertrude “Gert” Louise (Winters) Litzner, age 106, of St. Ignace, Michigan, died on February 2,
2026, at Evergreen Living Center in St. Ignace. She was born on June 22, 1919, in Moran,
Michigan, to John William and Cora Louise (Becker) Winters.

Gert attended the Moran School in the lower grades. She stayed with family friends in Sault St.
Marie so that she could attend and graduate from Sault Area High School in 1937. Gert’s family
moved to St. Ignace in the late 1930s, where she lived all of her adult life.

Gert had a thirty-six year career with Michigan Bell Telephone Company. She became head
operator of the St. Ignace office in 1944, running the office and supervising over forty operators
who worked the switchboard to provide telephone service to the city. Gert had a great sense of
adventure and was often elected driver for the chief operators in the northern districts when they
attended state-wide conferences. St. Ignace was one of the last three cities in the country to
maintain its switchboard service, transitioning to autodialing in 1974. After assisting with the
transition, Gert retired from Bell in 1976. She made many life-long friends among the operators.

Gert married Walter Abraham Litzner on June 1, 1943, at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, in
St. Ignace. Walt was a sergeant in the United States Army. He was deployed overseas on the day
that their son Doug was born, first meeting Doug upon his return eleven months later. Walt and
Gert made a home for their family on Truckey Street. Gert and Walt were married for sixty-seven
wonderful years before Walt’s death in 2010.
Gert and Walt were devoted parishioners of the St. Ignace Loyola Catholic Church. Walt was
head usher and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Gert was a member of the St. Anne’s
Altar Society and in recent years, served as a “prayer warrior” for young students attending faith
formation classes.

Gert was known for her unmatched hospitality. She hosted many gatherings for friends and
family. Visitors who popped in to say hello were greeted with mouth-watering, homemade treats
and a bottomless cup of coffee. Gert loved her family, friends and community. She had a
generosity of spirit, a sharp wit, and a zest for life that surely contributed to her longevity.

Gert is survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and friends, Rick
and Candy Boston, and Rhonda Engle.

Gert was preceded in death by her husband, Walt; son, Walter “Doug” Litzner; and siblings,
Barbara (Harold) Bliss, Raymond (Dorothy) Winters, Jack (Betty) Winters, Margaret (Joseph)
Perry, and Mary (Frank) Gruler.

The family extends a heartfelt thanks to all the staff at Evergreen Living Center for their care and
kindness to Gert over the past three years.
A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in June of 2026.

Gert’s final resting place will be at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Cemetery, in St. Ignace.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions, in Gert’s honor, may be made to the Evergreen Living
Center Activities Fund, 1140 N. State Street, or the St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, 120
Church St., both in St. Ignace, MI 49781.

Family Life Funeral Homes – St. Ignace assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences
may be given to the family at www.familylifefh.com.