Gertrude Van Roekel

Rock Rapids, IA

     Gertrude “Gert” Van Roekel age 86, of Rock Rapids, IA, died Thursday, October 4, 2018, at Rock Rapids Health Centre in Rock Rapids, IA.

     Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 9^th at First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids, IA, with Rev. Dan Haggar, officiating.

     Visitation will be Monday, October 8^th from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids.

     In lieu of flowers Gert requested memorials be given to Hope Haven or the Christian Children’s Fund.

     Gertrude (De Vries) (Kiel) Van Roekel was born January 16, 1932, in Larchwood, IA, daughter of Oscar & Martha (Tilstra) De Vries.  She graduated from Inwood High School and was united in marriage to Arie Kiel. They lived in the Alvord, IA area for 37 years. After Arie’s death she married Abe J. Van Roekel in 1988 at Doon Iowa.  They lived in Boyden IA.
     She worked in Valley Manor at Rock Valley for 15 years. She had been a member of the Doon First Reformed Church where she taught Sunday school, Catechism, Bible School was the Children’s Choir Director, active in the Reformed Church Women’s Ministry and Senior Saints. She loved traveling, reading and playing cards. She learned to love the computer at age 74. She moved into Fieldcrest Assisted Living in Sheldon IA in 2009. After having a stroke in 2016 she moved to the nursing home.
     She is survived by her children: Ardis Berkery (Kevin), Burbank, CA; Barb Arends (Glen), Lester, IA; Char LaFrenz (Rick), Foley, MN; Laurine Gerritsen (Don), Rock Rapids, IA; Russell Kiel (Vicki), Alvord, IA, 10 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren; Stepchildren, Myrna Van’t Hul (Marvin), Hull, IA and Audrey Hoftyzer, Boyden, IA. Siblings: Arlene Kooistra, Hills, MN, David De Vries (Linda), Alvord, IA; Oscar De Vries (Lori), Sioux Falls, SD and Joyce Tracy (John), Marionville, Mo.
     She was preceded in death by her parents, her stepmother, Gertrude De Vries, husbands; Arie and Abe, and daughter, Julie Kiel.