Obituary
Gertrude Smilich Dugan (Gert, Gertie) passed away on January 7, 2026, in The Villages, Florida. Gertie was born in Eccles, West Virginia, to Louis and Anna Smilich. The family moved to Minnesota when she was a young child.
After graduating from high school, Gert attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she earned a degree in education. She taught in elementary schools in Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs.
In 1966, Gert married Patrick Dugan. They moved to California, where Gert taught in schools in the San Jose area. They later owned a horse farm in Felton, California, near San Jose, where they had their own horses and also boarded horses.
In 2015, they sold their California properties and moved to The Villages, Florida.
Gert was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, and two sisters. She is survived by her husband, Patrick Dugan; her brother, Louie Smilich; her sister-in-law, Maridee; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be private.
Leave a reply