Belen W. (Wise) Gresens

Gertrude Belen (Wise) Gresens (“Belen”) passed away December 9, 2022, after a long battle with cancer. 

She was born to James and Gertrude Wise in Vinita, Oklahoma, on August 12, 1935. 

On May 14, 1960, she married the love of her life, Ronald Clifford Gresens. He proceeded her in death on July 30, 2021.

They are survived by their children, Denise (“DeDee”) (Chuck) Hansen, Shari (Chuck) Crawley and Scott (Veronica) Gresens, and grandchildren, Ronald, Stacy, Ashley, Brittany, Sophie and Julia, and six great-grandchildren. 

Belen graduated from the University of Oklahoma, where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

Belen was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, where she taught Sunday School and was an active Stephen Minister. She also participated in the church bazaar, bake sales, and various luncheon and dinner events.

She loved to play tennis, waterski, snow ski, snowmobile, kayak, horseback ride, and was an avid reader and puzzle player. Her involvement in water skiing started as a child and evolved further when her children became members of the Min-Aqua-Bat Water Ski Show. She became a judge and scorer in three-event waterski tournaments.  Her passion for waterskiing lead her to judge in many different areas of the sport such as local, regional, national, college, handicap and eventually to the Coors Light Pro tournaments. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests friends make donations to the American Cancer Society.

The funeral service will be held at 12 noon on December 19th, at the Chapel of St. John the Beloved, The Lutheran Home, 800 W. Oakton St., Arlington Heights.

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