Gertrude A. Harley, 94, of Defiance, passed away on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 in Defiance, Ohio.  
  
She was born on October 6, 1922 to Walter and Minnie (Halberg) Stelzer in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. In 1945 she married James W. Harley, who preceded her in death in 2004. 
  
Gertrude was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Defiance, and was active in the Altar & Rosary Society, Noodle Club, and as a Funeral Dinner volunteer. She was an excellent bridge player, and enjoyed other card games. Gertrude also enjoyed golfing where she achieved a "Hole-In-One", baking pies and cookies, and she bowled for over 40 years. She loved to travel, visited her daughter in Australia three times, and traveled often to Virginia and Wisconsin to visit her other children. On her 88th birthday, she visited Germany during Oktoberfest.  She lived her life to the fullest, and she will be missed by many.
  
Gertrude is survived by her son, James J. (Peggy) Harley of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, daughters, Jane Symes of N.S.W., Australia, and Kathy Diller of Glen Allen, Virginia, two granddaughters, Elizabeth Diller and Emily Harley, and four great-grandchildren. 
  
She was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband of  59 years, James Harley, brothers, Daniel and Stanley Stelzer, sisters, Sylvia Stelzer and Lois Makin.  

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am at St. Mary Catholic Church, with Father Randy Giesige, officiating. Entombment will  follow at Riverview Memory Gardens Mausoleum.
  
Memorials are suggested to Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund.