Geraldine J. Daley

Geraldine J. Daley died Saturday morning, February 3, 2024, at home in the kitchen while baking bread at the age of 84.

Geraldine Josephine “Gerrie” Daley was born March 12, 1939, at her farmstead home in Mount Vernon Township, Minn., near Winona, the daughter of Vincent and Susie (Siebenaler) Speltz. She attended Holy Trinity Elementary and High School in Rollingstone, graduating in 1957. She attended Saint Teresa’s College in Winona, Minn., for two years then transferred to Stout State in Menomonie, Wis., where she graduated in 1961.  During her senior year, she met, and then on June 30, 1962, married the love of her life, Peter C. Daley. They moved to Preston, Minne., where she began work as a Fillmore County Extension Home Economist from 1962-1971.  From 1971-2004, she owned and operated Daley’s Day Care where every child enjoyed pigs in a blanket, goulash and hotdish, and could always find homemade chocolate chip cookies in the cookie jar. 

Gerrie was a very active member of Saint Columban Catholic Church. She played the organ starting in 1962, served as parish council president, religious education director leader, lector, eucharistic minister, sacristan, CCW president, secretary, treasurer, Bible school teacher.  She was a past president of the Preston Arts Council, past president of the VFW Auxiliary and 45-year member, past team leader of Relay for Life, MCCL member, Park Board member, Library Board member, 4-H leader. She loved calling each of her six grandchildren every Sunday, coffee with friends at the Sweet Shoppe, shopping, traveling to Ireland, Germany, Okinawa, Saipan, Rota, Hawaii, Israel, Spain, Portugal and many states, especially Arizona and Florida in January. 

Gerrie is survived by her son Ted (Dawn) Daley of Eagan, Minn., daughter Kristine (Matt) Daley of Plymouth, Mich., and son Larry Daley of Preston, Minn.; six grandchildren: Alex (Tressa), Stephanie, Tim, Julia Daley, and Laura and Anna Boesch; her sister MaryAnn Erpelding of Minnetonka, Minn., and brother Richard (Carol) Speltz of Altura, Minn.; brothers-in-law John (Janice) Daley of Lewiston, Minn.; Jerry (Mary) Daley of Masillon, Ohio, Ron (Evelyn) Daley of Kapolei, Hawaii, David (Ann) Daley of Waterford, Wis., and sisters-in-law Mary Speltz of Altura, Minn., Mary Daley of Caledonia, Minn., and MaryAnn Scherbring of Maplewood, Minn; and many nieces and nephews. 

Gerrie was preceded in death by her husband Peter C. Daley, parents Vincent and Susie Speltz, brothers Cyril and David (Barb) Speltz, sister Theresa (Purves) Todd, and brothers-in-law Don Erpelding, Jim (Leora) Daley, Leo and Larry Daley. 

On Thursday, February 8, 2024, recitation of the Rosary will be at 4:30 p.m., followed by visitation from 5-7 p.m. at Saint Columban Catholic Church in Preston, Minn. On Friday, February 9, 2024, visitation will continue from 9-10 a.m. followed at 10 a.m. by Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Columban Catholic Church, in Preston, with Father Edward McGrath officiating. Burial will take place at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, Minn., at noon followed by lunch at the church at 12:30 p.m.