Gerdena Van Ryswyk Bandstra was born on December 16, 1917, to Dick and Catherine Kloosterman Van Ryswyk near Prairie City, Iowa . She received her early education at the Garden Hall Country School near the family home.

On February 9, 1938, Gerdena was united in marriage with Dick Bandstra at the home of her parents south of Taintor, Iowa. They were blessed with seven children: Arvin, Judith, Carrol, Betty, Shirley, Alice, and Marcia.

Gerdena was an active farm wife and loved caring for her family. She also enjoyed the time spent with extended family and friends. Gerdena was a great seamstress, enjoyed doing handwork, quilting, crocheting, working with flowers, music, playing the piano, gardening, and canning produce from her garden. Gerdena was a member of the First Reformed Church in Pella where she was active part of a women's Bible Study group.

Gerdena died the evening of May 14, 2010, at the Knoxville Hospital and Clinic at the age of ninety-two.

Those left to cherish her memory are her six children; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her sister: Mabel Podkovich of Bellevue, Nebraska; brothers-in-law, Jim Bandstra of Peoria, Iowa, and Andrew Bandstra of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick, in 2001; her daughter, Marcia Ruth Bandstra; daughter-in-law, Evelyn Joyce Bandstra; grandson, Richard Owen Bandstra; granddaughter, Sarah Ruth Vore; brother, Clarence Van Ryswyk; and sisters, Evelena De Penning and Leona Ross.

Family:
Arvin and Connie Bandstra - Pella, Iowa
Russell and Lori Bandstra

Judy and Lorence Van Dusseldorp - Pella, Iowa
Arlan Van Dusseldorp and fiance' Denise Derringer
Alan and Sara Van Dusseldorp
Renee and Curtis Carrington

Carrol and Carolyn Bandstra -- New Sharon, Iowa
Calvin Bandstra
Caren and Scott Rempe

Betty and Ivan Maasdam - Oskaloosa, Iowa
Kirk and Becky Maasdam
Jason and Lily Maasdam

Shirley and Mike Vore - Oskaloosa, Iowa
Mendy and Lance Edgar
Jim Campbell
Rob and Stephanie Campbell
Owen Vore

Alice and Gary Richardson - Newton, Iowa
Adam and Rachel Stam
Aaron and Marisa Stam

FUNERAL SERVICES

10:30 A.M., Wednesday, May 19, 2010
First Reformed Church
Pella, Iowa

VISITATION

3:00 P.M. Tuesday, May 18, 2010
with family present 5:00 - 7:00 P.M.
First Reformed Church, Pella, Iowa

MEMORIAL

Hospice of Pella
Children's Habilitation Center, Johnston, Iowa

INTERMENT

Stewart Cemetery
Taintor, Iowa

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