GERDES, Henry N., Rev. 1870-1931

GERDES, BEVING, TJADEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 7/31/2015 at 07:52:30

Rev. H. N. Gerdes, Victim of Cancer, Dies Friday

Was In Ministry 30 Years; Twice Pastor Of Lincoln Center Church

22 Ministers Attend Funeral Services Mon.

Filled Ministerial Charges in Illinois, South Dakota and Iowa

Rev. H. N. Gerdes passed away at his home in Lincoln township Friday morning following an illness of several months from cancer.

Funeral services were held at the deceased pastor's former church at Lincoln Center. Burial was made by the side of the wife in Lincoln Center cemetery. Twenty-two ministers of various denominations attended the obsequies. The seating capacity of the church was not large enough to accommodate other bereaved friends who came to attend the final rites of the beloved pastor. Rev. H. C. Bode was in charge of the services. The sermon in German was delivered by Rev. E. Swytter from Steamboat Rock, who spoke on Eph. 2:5. Rev. Boeve, pastor of the Christian Reformed church at Wellsburg, spoke in English. He took for his text John 17:24.

The Reverend H. N. Gerdes was born August 6, 1870, in Ludwigsdorf, Eastfriesland, Germany. He received baptism as a child and after due instruction was confirmed through Pastor Lindaman of Weeher. At the age of twenty-one he accompanied his brother Andrew to America, making his home with his uncle, Thomas Flessner. He worked a few years as a carpenter. The call to the ministry came imperative to him at that time and to prepare himself for this vocation he entered the German Presbyterian Theological School of the Northwest at Dubuque, now the University of Dubuque. Completing his studies, he was ordained to the ministry by the presbytery of Madison, April 21, 1901.

On June 10, 1901, he married Miss Trientje Beving of Ackley, Iowa. She died in 1904, leaving him two daughters: Lena and Kathryn, now Mrs. Joe Middents. In 1905 he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Wilhelmina Tjaden, who due to a fatal accident was suddenly snatched from his side December 12, 1929. Of this second marriage three children are surviving, Joanne (Mrs. John Kruse), Theodore and Carl. He also leaves to mourn his departure one brother, Andrew Gerdes, of Cleves, and two sisters, Mrs. Gerd Wilts of Ludwigsdorf, Eastfriesland, and Mrs. B. Franken of Parkersburg, and many other relatives.

Rev. Gerdes began his ministry by serving the church at Lansing, Iowa. From there he removed to Sutter, Ill. In 1905 he followed a call extended him by the German Presbyterian church of Lennox, S.D., and in 1907 to the Germantown congregation northwest of Lennox. During the years 1910-1913 he served the German Presbyterian Synod of the Northwest as supervisor of its home missionary activities. In 1911 he made a trip to Germany to visit his mother. In 1913 he followed a call to the German Presbyterian church at Kamrar, which he served until 1927. He left this charge to follow a call extended to him by the Christian Reformed church of Lincoln Center, northeast of Grundy Center. His work there was interrupted through one year of service given to the English Presbyterian church of Little Rock, Iowa. In the fall of 1929 he returned to his former charge at Lincoln Center, faithfully laboring in this field as preacher and pastor until a few months ago when sickness required him to lay down the work.

He was a member of the board of directors of Grundy College and also of the home missionary committee of Classis Eastfriesland.

Death came quietly on Friday, Apr. 24, 1931. He attained unto the age of 60 years, 8 months, and 18 days. The Epistle to the Hebrews admonishes, "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." Heb. 13,7. To the brethren in the ministry the departed leaves this word: "Brethren, preach Christ and not yourself. Preach Christ only."

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 30 April 1931, pg 1