Grace Gersema

GERSEMA, BEHRENDS, FECKERS, MILLER, FOX, SMITH, DEVRIES, ARENDS

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 7/17/2010 at 23:15:20

Grace Gersema, age 85, of Shell Rock, Iowa, was born the daughter of George & Malena (Behrends) Feckers on September 17, 1918, in Delton Twp., Cottonwood County, Minnesota. She received her education from the rural schools of Butler County, Iowa near her home.

On October 1, 1941, Grace was united in marriage with Henry Gersema at the Parsonage of the Christian Reformed Church in Parkersburg, Iowa by the Rev. K. Tebben. The couple worked for Bill Lahr on a farm southwest of Shell Rock for five years before moving to the Hoyt Elliott farm on the south edge of Shell Rock in 1946, where they farmed until their retirement in 1988. In 1985, Henry & Grace moved into Shell Rock but continued to farm the land until Henry's health failed. Henry died on November 27, 1997 and Grace continued to live in her home until she was taken to the Waverly Hospital on October 3 where she passed away at 1:40 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14, 2003, from complications of cancer.

Grace accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior 21 years ago and followed the Lord in believers baptism at the age of 82. She was then united with the membership of the Ridgeway Bethel Baptist Church in Waterloo where she has been an active member since that time.

Grace is survived by her 5 children and their spouses, Larry & Rose Marie Gersema of Shell Rock, Iowa, Lanora & Robert Miller of Galena, Illinois, Leroy & Dott Gersema of Allison, Iowa, Sharon & Larry Fox of Warrenton, Missouri, and Rick Gersema of Parkersburg, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; 5 step-great grandchildren; one brother, Fred (Minnie) Feckers of Clarksville, Iowa; 3 sisters, Margaret (Edward) Smith of Parkersburg, Iowa, Sena DeVries of Aplington, Iowa, Marie Arends of Clarence, Iowa; and one sister-in-law, Darlene Feckers of Cedar Falls, Iowa; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Henry in 1997, one sister, Sena Feckers, four brothers, Claus, Henry, Richard and Willie and two half-brothers, George Feckers Gerdes and Dirk Feckers.

Celebration of Life Services will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly, with Pastor Richard Achey officiating.

Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Shell Rock. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 17, 2003 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly with the family greeting from 7 - 9, and visitation also on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until services, with the family greeting at 10:00 a.m.

Memorials may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice, 207 20th N.W., Waverly, Iowa, 50677 or Waverly Municipal Hospital Foundation, 312 9th S.W., Waverly,Iowa.