Sharon (nee Gulig) Gensch was born on October 23, 1942, to Max and Lucille Gulig. Sharon passed away on July 27, 2024, after a courageous 10-year battle with Parkinson’s. Sharon is survived by her husband and best friend, Dennis Gensch, as well as three children, Erin, Shawn, and Devin (Danielle), and four grandchildren: Annika, Ryan, Francesca and Abigail.
Sharon was born in Milwaukee. She attended St. Ann’s Catholic School and then Washington High School where she was especially grateful for its strong academics. After graduation it was off to Marquette University where she majored in economics. She graduated in 1964 with a BA degree, then moved to Chicago and worked for the Federal Reserve.
It was at Marquette that she first met and dated her future husband. Their relationship was renewed and blossomed when Sharon moved to Chicago where Dennis was working on his MBA and PhD at Northwestern University. Dennis finished his PhD in Statistics and Quantitative Methods in the summer of 1967.
Sharon and Dennis were married on July 1,1967, at the Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Milwaukee. The next 10 years were spent in Pittsburgh where their three children were born. Sharon was devoted to finding and implementing activities to enrich their children’s lives. During this period, Dennis was on the facilities, first at the University of Pittsburgh and then at Carnegie Mellon University. In the summer months when Dennis was not teaching, the family traveled. On three occasions they spent the three months in Sidney, Australia, where Dennis was a guest lecturer. This gave the family plenty of time to explore Australia, where they found the people of Australia very friendly with a relaxed sense of humor. Sharon, who had a strong Irish background said this was the “Irish” influence.
Sharon was very much a people’s person. With a quick wit, gentle sense of humor, and a genuine interest in others she quickly made friends.
In their 10th year in Pittsburgh, Sharon got the shocking and unexpected news that her mother had suddenly died of a heart attack leaving her father, who had a serious heart condition, all alone. They moved back to Milwaukee for what was initially thought would be a few years. Sharon oversaw her father’s health, and the children quickly bonded with the grandfather and vice versa. Nine years passed before Max’s death. By this time, the family had integrated into the Wauwatosa community. Sharon was active in several organizations and clubs. She was on the parish and school committees and was a member of the Junior Women’s Group and eventually the Senior Women’s Group, whom Sharon called the Old Bat’s Brigade.
Sharon loved to travel, particularly to places with outdoor recreational facilities. She and Dennis became snowbirds traveling to Phoenix each year over 35 years until Sharon’s Parkinsons prevented them from traveling. Sharon enjoyed being in a highly competitive tennis league in Phoenix where she played almost daily. Sharon also enjoyed swimming and hiking in the desert and in the mountains. Sharon loved spending time each August camping at Peninsula State Park in Door County, Wisconsin.
Sharon had a very strong interest in education and worked hard to provide educational values and stimulation for her children. Her efforts contributed to two children graduating from Stanford University with honors. On the post graduate level, her children collectively acquired a PhD, MD and law degree.
The family would like to thank the hospice nurse and in particular, Tracy Morgan and Stacie Lahr, for the care given to Sharon.
A funeral celebration will be held at St. Camillus sometime in September with the date, yet to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in Sharon’s memory would be appreciated by the family.
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