Gertrude Groote

Little Rock, Iowa Gertrude Gert Groote, age 93 of Little Rock, IA died Friday, January 29, 2010 at the Country View Manor in Sibley, IA. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, with Reverend Scott Burdsall officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery in Little Rock. Visitation will be Monday, February 1st from 2:00 " 8:00 p.m. with family present from 6:00 " 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. Gertrude (Wiertzema) Groote was born on April 4, 1916 in Ranson Township, Nobles County, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Walter and Angeline (Groenwold) Wiertzema. She attended rural school in the Rushmore area through the eighth grade. She married Bernard Groote of George, Iowa on September 11, 1934. After their marriage in Sibley, Iowa, they farmed near George for twenty-five years, operated a caf in Little Rock for three years, and then returned to farming for eleven more years. Throughout the years she worked various other places such as the Osceola Community Hospital, Little Rock Hardware Store and the Little Rock Drive-In. They retired to Little Rock in 1974. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, Iowa. She leaves to cherish her memory; one daughter, Bertha (husband, Algene) Houtsma of Rushmore, MN; two granddaughters, Darla (husband, Kriene) Kramer of Adrian, MN and Deann (husband, Kevin) Reese of Marshall, MN; five great grandchildren, Kourtney Kramer and fianc Kale Leuthold, Karly Kramer, Mason, Gabrielle and Dawson Reese; one brother, Ollie (wife, Ivadell) Wiertzema of Jefferson, IA; two sisters, Tena Groote of Sibley, IA and Viola Nash of Moville, IA; two sisters-in-law, Delores Wiertzema of Little Rock and Lorraine Wiertzema of Sibley; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bernard, two brothers, Harry and Walter Wiertzema; six sisters, Ann Buchman, Rose Willemssen, Angie Boekhout, Grace Gertsema, Jane Houghton and an infant sister Jenny.