MOUNT HOREB - Georgia Jean Post, age 100, of Mount Horeb, passed away on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at Ingleside Manor. She was born on August 28, 1924, in Mount Vernon, Wis., the daughter of George and Mabel (Beard) Way.

Georgia grew up attending the McPherson one-room schoolhouse outside of Mount Vernon, and graduated from Verona High School in 1942. On October 16, 1948, she married Arthur Post at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. In addition to caring for her family and working hard on the family farm, she was on the Village Board in Mount Horeb for many years. She was also a supervisor of the Senior Citizen Outreach Center. She loved baking, sewing and being with family. Everyone loved Georgia’s pies! Georgia also enjoyed traveling around the world. She was known as a willing volunteer who wanted to make a difference for the communities she called home.

Georgia is survived by her son, Arthur Lawrence (Maria) Post Jr.; foster son, Dominic Haag; grandchildren, Timothy Post, Arthur Post, Juno Post, Maddie Haag and Chapin Haag; 10 great-grandchildren, Caleb, Ethan, George, Lily, Bailey, William, Alexis, Matthew, Joshua and Titus; and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Arthur; sisters, Florence (Harry) Rudd, Nona (Arthur) Hagen and Gloria (Phil) Craker; and brother, Noel (Audrey) Way.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, 109 S. Sixth St., Mount Horeb, at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 6, 2024, with Father Rob Butz presiding. Burial will be held at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Gunderson Camacho Mount Horeb Funeral and Cremation Care, 500 N. Eighth St., Mount Horeb, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, 2024, and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Friday.
 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mount Horeb Public Library or The Mount Horeb Community / Senior Center. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Camacho Mount Horeb
Funeral & Cremation Care
500 N. Eighth St.
(608) 437-5077

Below is Georgia's self-written life story:

May 2022

Born in 1924 at home and had 3 older siblings - two sisters & a brother and later, a sister 6 years younger. All sisters were 6 years apart. My mother said she always had a baby that way, however I don't think it was planned that way. Childhood was happy. 1933 depression years on the farm meant we didn't go hungry with animals, chicken and the garden. We were very poor, but so was everybody else.

I think I was about 9 when I started piano lessons. 35 cents for a ½ hour, paid for by egg and chicken money stored in a jar on a shelf in the pantry. I never found out about the piano, a lot of neighbors had one - how could they afford it? (somebody must have really been selling pianos) I played in grade school where needed and in HS for glee club etc.

Although we were poor, I remember a daily newspaper, telephone - many neighbors on one line - our ring was 2 long, and a battery radio. Limited listening but we got news, obituaries, soaps and Sunday big band music for an hour. Gloria and I would dance around the kitchen table.

My dad coached me for a driver's license in Madison. I drove for a policeman and obtained a license at 16 years old.

We had a car. At first a Model T, which my mother drove and at different times would give her trouble and a few choice words.

Verona HS did not have a football team so we went to movies in Madison. Wedding dances were very popular, so we danced a lot. I graduated in 1942.

Dec 7, 1941 war was declared in my senior year, the year was shortened and the draft was taking all the young eligible men. A girlfriend and I went to the East Coast and I worked for a Navy Depot out there.

Art and I knew each other. He was drafted and letters were sent back and forth. At war's end, we both returned to Wisconsin and started dating. He worked at Gresholt and I at Farmers Mutual on Johnson Street (now American Family).

We married on Oct 16, 1948 and in March took over the Post farm and became farmers. The farm was in the estate of Bertha Post and after working hard, saving and doing with little luxuries. We bought the farm on contract. Art was a workaholic and together we milked 50-60 cows, tended the land and paid all the debts. One of the first vehicles we owned was an old army truck which we obtained cheap. Ben Bilse loaned us $4,000 to buy a tractor, plow, etc, so we could begin farming. I never regretted the farm life, worked hard, no time off or vacation and having the bare necessities. We were young, healthy and ambitious.

We were members of the Holy Redeemer Catholic church where Art was a lifelong member. Shortly after we were farming, the church needed an organist and I thought I could play a decent hymn, so I volunteered. l, and Larry (in the womb), played the pump organ for a while until they (the church) bought a Hammond Spinet organ. I played for weddings, funerals, events for over 50 years and I doubt that I missed many days.

Larry was born Sept 8, 1950 and Dom was born Aug 5, 1960 to Richard & Edna Post (Art's cousin), they both passed and Dom came to live with us at age 6.

Larry & Dom helped Art with chores and field work. Larry graduated HS and at UW had a degree in agronomy. He entered the Peace Corps and was sent to Peru, but the Corp was sent home for political reasons. He reentered the Peace Corps and was sent to Nicaragua to help the farmers. While there he met Lilliam Rodriguez, married in Nicaragua (1-24-76) and returned to us in Wisconsin during the ice storm of 1976.

Undecided what to do - Larry gradually worked into the farm operation, field work, milking cows, etc.

They lived upstairs, we ate together, Lilliam learned English and we took turns cooking the main meals. She learned by my cooking and we learned hers. They had three children, two sons & a daughter and as they grew older, Larry & Lilliam did the milking.

As time passed, I took more interest in other activities, especially sewing. I made a lot of my own clothes and flannel shirts for the guys.

I learned how to make draperies and did so for other people. Because Art had no interest in traveling ("l did that in the army") I took trips alone, Friendship Force to Germany, later Ireland and Spain. The first trip to Nicaragua was a sewing trip, second trip, visited Larry in the Peace Corps, and 3rd Audry & I went for Larry & Lilliam's wedding 1-24-76.

In 1973, the federal government appropriated funds for the enrichment and enhancement of the lives of older Americans. These funds became available to states, then to counties then local units. I was asked to represent Perry township on a board that later became S West Dane Outreach. I was involved in Outreach until I retired in 1997.

During this time I also became involved in a county program, RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program). I sewed various projects including vests, tote bags, and over the years hundreds of cut and sewed little bears - all items were distributed by RSVP to schools, nonprofits and the needy. March 2020 ended that project.

Art and I moved from the farm to 213 S 6th street in Mt Horeb in 1988. We bought and rented Grandma Post's house several years before.

I was still playing organ in Perry, sewing for RSVP and doing alterations and on the Outreach program. I was encouraged by several friends to run for Village Board. I was first elected in 1999 and served for 10 years. During this time the Village built a new library, the old library became a Community Center and an office for Outreach. The old bridge on 6th street was replaced with a new one despite much controversy. My time as an elected official on the board was interesting and educational. It was a good experience.

Over the years I was appointed to the building committee for Mount Horeb Area Clinic, completed in

1978. Had shares in Ingleside and saw the process of Sr Housing - Durtschi, Maple Terrace, Lincoln Court, Inglewood and Inglehaven. I was also on the building committee for Homestead Cooperative completed in 1996.

After Art's passing in 2003, I moved a year later to Homestead at age 80.

Summer 2022, blessed with good health and mind, I enjoyed the senior center, playing cards, making pies and baking, can still cook and drive my '97 Blazer. Fortunately, we survived the pandemic, no serious illness among family, relatives and close friends.

I was a league bowler (140 avg), volunteered playing piano for church service hymns at two nursing homes (15 plus years), and donated many gallons of blood at American Red Cross, and water exercising at Karakahl pool.

Looking back, I had a good life, I never felt I was real talented, although I did many things with commitment, dependability and ambition.

This is a story of my life and at age 97, can say that I was a faithful farm wife, a mother in law, and a contributing member of society.