Esther was born Esther Cathrin Little in Cleveland, Ohio— the fifth of seven children.
She met William H. Schuette at Cleveland’s West Technical High School.
Esther earned a scholarship and a diploma at Hiram College, 40 miles from Cleveland.
Esther & Bill married in 1940 and moved to Midland in October of 1941 when Bill was recruited to work at Dow. From that time on, Midland was her home.
Esther & Bill Schuette had three children.
Esther was active in many important civic and community campaigns during her 62 years in Midland, beginning with the Red Cross Canteen Group in WWII.
Bill Schuette passed away in 1959, just in his 40’s. Some years later, in 1975, Esther married Carl Gerstacker, Chairman & President of Dow.
The Gerstackers had a leading role in the founding of the Midland Area Community Foundation and in the building of the “Tridge,” now a symbol of the city.
Carl and Esther brought the leader of the Cleveland Area Foundation to Midland. There was a cocktail party at the Midland Country Club, and several Midland advocates spoke with Esther and Carl.
Esther viewed the Midland Foundation as a catalyst for leadership to build Midland’s future.
Esther’s community involvement during her 62 years in Midland included:
Midland Center for the Arts Board, Midland Symphony Orchestra Board, Cancer Center, Northwood University, Midland Music Society, Visiting Nurse Association, and the Salvation Army. e was president and trustee of the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, Midland Community Foundation. e was listed among 150 outstanding women in Michigan in 1987.
Esther Gerstacker was the Midland Area Community Foundation president for six years.
Mary Neely (MACF Board, 1984) stated at the 1984 Annual Meeting:
“Esther’s leadership has been nothing short of phenomenal. Her vision of the future has been and continues to be a challenge for all of us who work with her. Ther, the first to say that many share the responsibility for the accomplishments of the six years.”
But, Mary Neely shared, it does take that “energizer,” and I can’t think of a better description for Mrs. Gerstacker.
Mary Neely shared, “No one in Midland will ever forget the 3-legs of the Tridge finally spanning our rivers and the marvelous day when one could walk across. If one could pick a day when the foundation came into its own, that would have to be the day. Esther Gerstacker has been at the helm.”
Esther said that if the Midland Foundation is to survive and grow, it needs persons willing to dedicate some of their ideas, talents, and treasures to Midland – how well she has followed her own advice.
Esther & Carl were a formidable couple:
They have been repeatedly named by former and current foundation members when asked who was the organization’s backbone.
When Carl and Esther Gerstacker saw a neglected Tittabawassee River, it first troubled them and then encouraged them. rl & Esther quoted upon being given the Midland beautification award. Carl gave his wife credit for the work. Esther does all the designing and the planning, and then she says ‘Jump,’ and I dig the hole,” he said.
Carl quoted, ‘I really do these things because I’m selfish; I live here, I want this place to be the finest place in the world because I live here”.
In 1997, a park sculpture at the Tridge, named ‘the couple,’ was erected in the Gerstacker’s honor.
This was to commemorate the work of philanthropists Carl & Esther Gerstacker. The bronze statue, sculpted by local artist James Hopfensperger, “the couple” said the man and woman look like people he knows – it’s just a couple; it does not look like the Gerstackers. That was the family choice. The two figures eyes gazing forward. d that is fitting because the Gerstackers always looked to the future of Midland.
Esther passed away on August 2, 2003.