GEERDES, John G. 1864-1949

GEERDES, RUTER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/25/2016 at 20:48:48

Funeral Services Held For John Geerdes Last Saturday

Funeral services for John G. Geerdes were held Saturday, May 14 at one o'clock at the home and later at the First Christian church west of Wellsburg. Rev. Joseph VandeKieft, pastor had charge of the services. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Music was furnished by a men's quartet: John Henry Primus, Claus Primus, Alfred Eiten, Harold Eiten. Soloist, Claus Primus. Accompanist, Mrs. Claus Primus. Organist, Mrs. Arthur Cooper. Flower attendants: Mrs. Ben Nederhoff and Mrs. Ted Nederhoff.

Pallbearers were Louie Meints, Herman Bakker, Jonas Geerdes, Elmer Heetland, Kenneth Heetland, Virgil Heetland.

John Geerdes was born in Stephensen county, Illinois on Nov. 16, 1864. He died on May 10th, 1949 due to the complications of old age, at the age of 84 years, 5 months, and 24 days. He came to Wellsburg with the family in infancy and lived all his life on the farm west of Wellsburg. On Feb. 29, 1888, he was united in marriage to Gertrude Ruter. To this union were born five sons and five daughters. Two of the sons died early in life, one in infancy and the other at the age of two. The other children are still living in the vicinity of Wellsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Geerdes enjoyed the great blessing of being able to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in 1938. Mrs. Geerdes was taken from the side of her husband on Dec. 7, 1942. During his long life Mr. Geerdes was a member of the First Chr. Ref. Church of Wellsburg. Mr. Geerdes was also preceded in death by four brothers: Argen, Jake, Heye and Henry; and by one sister, Mrs. W. A. Meyer.

He is survived by three sons: Ben, George, and Gratus; five daughters: Mrs. John Heikens, Mrs. Paul Heetland, Mrs. Jake Geerdes, Mrs. Gerald Bakker, and Ordie; also 14 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. One sister, Mrs. S. J. Snittjer, also remains to mourn the loss of her brother.

--The Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 19 May 1949, pg 1