Edith Louise Gillitzer (nee Sager)

Verona - Edith Louise Gillitzer (nee Sager), age 92, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Ingleside Manor in Mt. Horeb. 

She was born on September 18, 1932, on a farm outside Lancaster WI, the only daughter of John and Doretha Sager.  She was one of four children.  Edith moved to Madison right after high school.  She roomed with eight women in one apartment.  As they each lived their lives and got married, they kept in touch writing their “Round Robin” for several decades. 

Edith raised her children during the day and did bookkeeping at night.  After all the girls were in school, she began working for the federal government (FDIC, US Dairy and Forage Research Center and US Geological Survey). 

On February 27, 1954, she married John Gillitzer.  Through this union, they created four wonderful daughters: Kathleen (Dennis) Virnig of Waunakee; Marcia (Alan) Virnig of Windsor; Margaret (David) Hoffman of Blanchardville; and Patricia (David) Fargen of Spring Green.  They were married 59 years before John passed away in 2013.  She is further survived by six grandchildren, Brian (Eileen) Virnig, Crystal (Nicholas) Pahl, Mark Virnig, Ross Virnig, Steven (Kathryn) Hoffman, and Lindsay Richards; six great grandchildren, Rana (Fran), Alec (Ashley), Chloe (Greg), Ian, Teagan, and Samuel; a brother, Kenneth Sager, sister-in-law Lorraine (Roger) Richter and many nieces and nephews. 

Edith was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John, her brother Virgil Sager and an infant brother Herbert Sager, brothers-in-law Dennis Check, Bob Secord, Thomas Gillitzer and sisters-in-law Ruth Sager, Anna Gillitzer, and Genevieve Secord. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 11:00 am, at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 301 N Main St., Verona with Monsignor Holmes presiding.  Burial in St. Andrews Cemetery and luncheon to follow.  Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass on Saturday at the church. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Edith’s name can be made to St. Andrew Catholic Church or Agrace Hospice. 

The family would like to thank all the people who cared for her at St. Mary’s Care Center and Ingleside Manor.  

To view Edith’s obituary, or to share a memory, please visit:  www.ryanfuneralservice.com.