Gertie Van Norden, daughter of Peter and Effie (Vander Leest) Vande Geest, was born August 22, 1918, near Kellogg, Iowa. She passed away on Monday, June 16, 2008, at the Pella Hospice Comfort House at the age of eighty-nine years.

As a child Gertie attended five different grade schools including one in El Centro, California. She graduated from the eighth grade at the Rieter School. Since Gertie was an only child, her neighbors were very close friends.

She married Henry Van Norden on February 25, 1939, at the Sully Christian Reformed Church parsonage. Two children were born to this union: Zelda Ruth on August 2, 1941 and Roger Lee on July 17, 1943. The family lived on three different farms in the Sully area.

Gertie was a faithful and active member of the Sully Christian Reformed Church.

Gertie enjoyed canning and baking. Her greatest joy was serving good meals to her family every day. Her home was always open to visitors where she boarded many teachers who worked in the area. Gertie and Henry often helped Gertie's parents on their farm.

On April 22, 1970 shortly after Gertie left home to care for her mother in Pella, Henry was electrocuted on their farm. After her husband's death she worked as a cook for several years at the Lynnville-Sully schools.

Those left to cherish her memory are: her daughter and her husband: Zelda Ruth and David Schimmel of Pella; her daughter-in-law: Lenora and the late Roger Van Norden of Reasnor; six grandchildren and their spouses: Sharon and Calvin Fopma, Carla and Jay Hofland, Marcie and Trent Troyer, Melinda and Ryan Waddell, Russ and Kathy Van Norden, and Carol and Matt Schulte; nineteen great-grandchildren; several cousins; and her lifelong friend, Marge Van Genderen, who shared a dulplex with her for thirty-seven years.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Henry, in 1970; and her son, Roger in 2004.

FUNERAL SERVICES

1:00 P.M. Thursday, June 19, 2008
Sully Christian Reformed Church
Sully, Iowa

VISITATION

10:00 A.M. until Noon, Wednesday, June 18, 2008
at the Pella Garden Chapel Funeral Home
1:30 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.
at the Sully Garden Chapel Funeral Home
with family present 6:00 -8:00 P.M.

MEMORIALS

Hospice of Pella
Back To God Hour

FAMILY

Daughter:
Zelda (David) Schimmel - Pella, Iowa
Daughter-in-law:
Lenora and the late Roger Van Norden - Reasnor, Iowa

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