Genevieve Lydia Ekstrom OBITUARY

Genevieve Lydia Ekstrom OBITUARY

Genevieve Lydia Ekstrom peacefully passed away at her home in Vero Beach, Florida and went to be with the Lord on May 28, 2026. Genny’s mind was sharp and her wit was quick until the last days. Her body was just tired. Genny was born June 2, 1928, in Gray Eagle, Minnesota to August and Adina Uecker Schwartz. As a young child, Genny and her parents moved to Chicago, IL where she was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church and completed all 12 years of her public education. She went on to study art at the Chicago Art Institute and the American Academy of Art also in Chicago, IL. On Genny’s first day of class at the Chicago Art Institute, she met Bonnie Haberer (Zak) and Norma Freeman (Garris). They became lifelong friends and sisters at heart. After completing her academic training, she worked as a Fashion Illustrator for several commercial art studios as well as illustrating for Sears & Roebuck and other Chicago retail stores. In the fall of 1962, Genny met the love of her life, Norris Ekstrom, and they were married May 25, 1963, in Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL. They made their home in Milwaukee, WI, Lake Bluff, IL and retired to Vero Beach, Fl in 1988. While in Lake Bluff and Vero Beach Genny exhibited artwork in oil and acrylics annually at the Lake Forest Art League Festival and at the Artist Guild Gallery in Vero Beach. Genny was an impressionist style artist at heart, and her love of art, travel and studying were large parts of her life. Norris and Genny were able to travel the world together and created some of her fondest memories. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Norris Ekstrom in 1998. She is survived by nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends. She led her life with generosity and her relationship with the Lord Jesus shaped her values. In Genny’s words, “I have had a wonderful life.”