Grace Minnie Rypkema

George, Iowa Grace Minnie Rypkema age 95 of George, died Saturday, March 17, 2007, at the George Community Good Samaritan Center in George, IA. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at the Lyon County First Presbyterian Church rural George, with Reverend Dale Lint officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Lawn Cemetery in George. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. The Roste Funeral Home of George is in charge of arrangements. Grace Minnie Rypkema was born on November 9, 1911 in rural George, the daughter of George and Grace (Eilders) Geerdes. Her mother died on January 21, 1912 and Grace was raised by Ben and Hannah (Geerdes) Blau. Grace married John D. Rypkema on February 23, 1933. They farmed northeast and south of George. They retired and moved into town in 1973. John passed away September 24, 1992. Grace was a homemaker and a loving wife and mother. She was happiest when her family was around her. Grace was a faithful church member of Lyon County First Presbyterian Church rural George and the Dorcas Society. Grace leaves to cherish her memory, three sons: Donald (wife Mavis) Rypkema and Norman (wife Lori) Rypkema of Sioux Falls, SD and Edward (wife Alice) Rypkema of Lincoln, NE; one daughter, Joan (husband Bob) Luitjens of George; ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren; one sister, Vera (husband Clifford) Eberlien of Sheldon; one brother George (wife Jo) Geerdes of Elfrida, AZ; and a sister-in-law, Fern Geerdes of Sheldon. She was preceded in death by her husband John, two infant grandsons, her twin brother Raymond Harms, five other brothers and three sisters and also three cousins with whom she was raised.