GERSEMA, Wierd 1903-1995

GERSEMA, ABBEN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 10/9/2013 at 18:12:31

Wierd Gersema

MARBLE ROCK, IOWA - Funeral services for Wierd Gersema, 92, of 319 Iowa St., will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Rosemary Rohde-Franke officiating. Burial will be in Sunnyside Memory Gardens in Charles City. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Reid's Funeral Chapelin Marble Rock and one hour before services on Saturday at the church.

Wierd Gersema was born April 30, 1903, in rural Parkersburg, Butler County, a son of Henrich and Christina (Behrends) Gersema, and died Wednesday, November 22, 1995, at his residence from complications of age. He received his education in the rural Butler County Schools near Parkersburg and Kesley.

On October 15, 1924, he was united in marriage to Charlotte H. Abben at Faith Lutheran Church in Charles City. Wierd and Lottie worked together for farmers in the Greene area until 1927 when they started farming on their own east of Greene. They remained there for 17 years until they moved to Ulster Township in Floyd County where they farmed for 30 years before retiring in 1974 and moving into Marble Rock.

Wierd enjoyed every aspect of farming but took special interest in his dairy cattle and livestock. After retiring and moving into town, he enjoyed gardening as a pastime. Wierd and Lottie enjoyed each others company and spent many evenings playing dominos. He was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church in MarbleRock.

Survivors include his loving wife of 71 years, Lottie of Marble Rock; one daughter, Ann and her husband, Lawrence Bohlen of Coolidge, Arizona; two sons, Lawrence W. and Nina Gersema of El Paso, Texas, and Dale R. and Pat Gersema of Fort Worth, Texas; five granddaughters, Cindi and Peter Haley of Belen, New Mexico; Jan and Kilby Copeland and Sandra St. Germain, all of Albuquerque, N.M.; Shari K. and Manuel Rivera of Coolidge, Arizona; Nila and William Newton of El Paso, Texas; five great-grandchildren, David and Jason Copeland, Stephen Haley, Stephanie St. Germain, and Jacob Rivera; three step-great-grandchildren, Chad and Chelsea Brasfield, and Daniel Howe; and one sister, Bena Abben of Stacyville.

He was preceded in death by two grandsons, Kenneth D. Gersemaand Douglas R. Gersema; his parents; seven sisters, Margaret, Dora, Tina, Hattie, Etta, Anna and Jenny; and three brothers, George, Henry and John.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Wierd Gersema Memorial Fund in care of the family.