ROSS, Grace 1888-1932

ROSS, GEERDES

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/6/2015 at 13:30:17

1000 Attend Funeral Of Mrs. Rieke W. Ross Saturday

Mrs. R. W. Ross was found dead in bed last Thursday morning. She passed away in her sleep from heart failure some time during the night Wednesday. She was in her usual good health when she went to bed on Wednesday night. Her mother died in the same way 19 years ago.

More than a thousand people attended the funeral service which were held Saturday afternoon. It was one of the largest attended funerals ever held in this part of the county. A brief service was held at the home and later at the English Reformed church. Rev. Boeve, the local pastor, had charge of the service. He was assisted by Rev. H. C. Bode. Practically all of the space on the main floor of the church was reserved for and filled with relatives. Not more than half of the friends who came for the funeral service were able to get into the church. This large group of relatives and friends who attended the final rites attested the love and esteem in which Mrs. Ross was held.

The pallbearers were George Henry Geerdes, C. W., H. W., J. W., W. W and A. W. Ross.

Obituary
Grace Geerdes Ross was born in Hardin county Oct 20, 1888. Her entire life was spent in this community.

She was united in marriage to Rieke W. Ross Nov. 25, 1908. She died at the age of 43 years, 8 months and 17 days.

Those left to mourn her loss are her husband, two daughters, Grace and Esther, two sons, Willard and Richard Romane, besides her father, Henry Geerdes of Steamboat Rock; four sisters, Gertie, Mrs. Ben Isebrands, Woden; Alice, Mrs. G. B. Riekena, Forest City; Bertha, Mrs. Wm. Berends, Steamboat Rock; Bessie, of Steamboat Rock; one brother, George Henry, of Wellsburg, and a host of other relatives.

It can be said of her that she was a faithful wife, devoted mother and cheerful and generous friend. In her departure the family, the relatives, the church and the community suffer a severe loss. But our loss is her gain. She was a confessing Christian and lived not merely for material things. Her endeavor was to rear her family in the fear of God. She loved the Lord and His public worship and she was exceptionally faithful in church attendance. She had been active in Sunday school work as a teacher and was ever ready to do her part as a member of the Willing Workers Society.

The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the bereaved family so severely stricken and so suddenly cast into unspeakable sorrow. This affliction however is greatly mitigated and alleviated with the promise of the Lord: Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. Christ assures His own: I will not leave your comfortless. This is the balm of Gilead poured into heart wounds. His grace is sufficient in every trying hour. The thorn in the flesh may be painful indeed but the Great Physician still is near to uphold, sustain and grant relief.

"Cast thy burden on the Lord,
Only lean upon His Word;
Thou wilt soon have cause to bless
His unchanging faithfulness."

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 14 July 1932, pg 3