Gertrude Dorothy (Roose) Wassink was born on December 19, 1922, the fourth child born to Wm. J. and Gertie (Hollander) Roose near Leighton, Iowa. She spoke only the Dutch language before she went to school. She was baptized and made profession of faith in the Leighton Christian Reformed Church.

Gertrude received her education from Burr Oak School in Mahaska County. She lived and worked on the farm and as a hired girl for new mothers and cleaning houses.

On October 22, 1947, she was united in marriage to Henry John Wassink at the family farm home near Leighton. They moved to a farm near Otley, where three daughters were born. Karen Jean, Ruth Ilene and Greta Helain. They lived here for 54 years until Henry passed away on October 31, 2001. Gertrude lived there for another year and then moved to a duplex in Pella. Then in November of 2012, she moved to Fair Haven East where she lived for eight years and in May 2020 became a resident of The Cottages. Gertrude was a long-time member of the Second Christian Reformed Church of Pella. She enjoyed scrapbooking, genealogy, playing games, camping, and traveling.

Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister and brother-in-law Jennie and Valentine Mathes; and her brothers and sisters-in-law: Garrit and Bessie Roose, Wilbur and Evadena Roose, Fanny Wassink, Minnie and Alvin Van Zee, Janet and Henry Van Haaften, and Rose and Clarence Van Essen.

Gertrude is survived by her family:

Karen and Rod Blackford of Hartford, Iowa

Terry and Ann Blackford

Elizabeth and Noah Hart

Dylan

Tricia Blackford

Alex, Nathan (son Micah), Kenneth, and Austin Charikov

Melissa and A.J. Page

Fayth, Kennedy

Ruth and Harold Gorter of Otley, Iowa

Howard and Melissa Gorter

Lucas, Preston, Colin

Harley and Stacey Gorter

Henry, Oliver, George

Rachel and David Dick

Hazel, Silas

Greta Wassink of Carlisle, Iowa

The funeral will be livestreamed at https://youtu.be/cqjt9yBkG8c

Wesley Life Hospice - Pella
1742 Main St, Pella IA 50219

Pella Christian Grade School

Pella Christian High School
Pella IA