Gertie Lupkes

Rock Rapids, IA Gertie Lupkes, age 91of Rock Rapids, IA died Sunday, January 24, 2010 at Lyon Manor Nursing & Rehab Center in Rock Rapids, IA. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, January 30th at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, IA, with Rev. Dr. Dave Christenson officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids. Visitation will be Friday, January 29th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. Gertie Bodde Lupkes was born Dec. 30, 1918 near Ellsworth, MN the daughter of Henry and Bertha (Werkman) Bodde. She grew up on the family farm at Ellsworth. Gertie came from a family of nine. She attended country school District 14 through the 8th grade and then worked for families that needed help as a hired girl or maid. Gertie was married February 24, 1939 to John Lupkes Jr. in Rock Rapids. After their marriage they farmed east of Rock Rapids and in 1978 they retired and moved to Rock Rapids. Gertie worked at Lyon Manor nursing home, first as a cleaning person and later in the laundry department. She also worked for a time at the Rock Rapids Health Centre in the dietary department. As a sideline and hobby Gertie made quilts and did mending of clothes. On November 4, 1989 her husband John died. Gertie is survived by her four children, son, Lawrence (Beth) Lupkes; daughter, Gloria (Chuck) Ditsworth; daughter, Nancy (Louie) Steenblock; and son, Lester (Crystal) Lupkes all of Rock Rapids; 9 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters, Katie Kor of Marshall, MN, and Ann Kitchen of Sioux Falls, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Bertha Bodde; husband John Lupkes; sisters, Helen Kruse, Berniece Lenz, Henrietta Bodde, and Minnie Stubbe; and brothers, Dick Bodde and George Bodde. In Lieu of flowers, family wishes memorials be directed toward Lyon County Hospice.