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Obituary

Gisela M. Morris, 89, of Bradenton, died January 21, 2024 at home. Gisela, also known as Dolly, was born in Buffalo, New York to Johann and Magdalene (Stephan) Dollhopf. Gisela lost her mother to cancer at the age of three. She spent most of her formative years in Michigan, first in Detroit and then Romulus, with her loved father and stepmother, Irene, and siblings. On July 3, 1954, she married the love of her life and the boy next door, Rudy Morris at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Boston, Michigan. They were blessed with three children. In 1986 Gisela and Rudy moved to Bradenton from Romulus. Gisela was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She was a devoted Christian and lived her life exemplifying the love of Jesus. She was an active church member at St. Paul’s and then Hope and Beautiful Savior Lutheran Churches in Manatee County. She was a Sunday school teacher and member of the choir, Ladies Aid Society, and Altar and Service Guilds. The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) was especially dear to her heart and she was actively involved in that organization for over fifty years. She served as Beautiful Savior’s organist from 1989-2000 and was the church’s office manager for twenty years. After retiring from those positions, she continued to serve the church in various ways. Gisela also was an accomplished seamstress and cook. She made many items of clothing for her children and grandchildren. In the area of baking, Gisela was particularly known for her chocolate chip cookies, apple pies, and her Christmas candy cane coffee cakes. Family dinners, holidays, and birthday celebrations were made special by the foods she lovingly prepared. Surviving Gisela are her daughter, Susan (Ralph) McInnis and two sons, Robert (Carrie) and Paul (Kim), all of Bradenton. She also is survived by eight grandchildren, Alex, Ian, Erin, Caleb, Tyler, Luke, Riley, and Max as well as a sister, Irene, of Grand Blanc, Michigan, and numerous nieces and nephews. Gisela was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother, Carl. A memorial service will be held at Beautiful Savior in Manatee County at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made to the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League care of both churches.