GEERDES, Ben G. 1906-1985

GEERDES, RIEKENA, EEKHOFF

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 12/17/2016 at 08:41:01

Services For Ben G. Geerdes Held Friday

Funeral services for Ben G. Geerdes were held on Friday, May 3 at 1:30 p.m. at the First Christian Reformed Church. Rev. John Gorter officiated at the services.

Alfred Eiten, soloist, sang two selections, accompanied by Mrs. Jack Bakker at the organ. Flower attendants were Mrs. Fred Eiten and Mrs. Carl J. Nederhoff.

Casketbearers were Gregory Geerdes, Wesley Harms, John Wilts, Don Geerdes, Duane Eekhoff and Arden Terfehn.

The interment service was held in the First Christian Reformed Church cemetery.

Arrangements were in charge of the Doyen Funeral Home.

Ben passed away at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 30 at St. Francis Hospital in Waterloo following a lingering illness. He had been taken to the hospital for treatment on the previous Friday. He reached the age of 78 years, 8 months and 2 days.

He was born on a farm in Hardin county near Steamboat Rock on August 28, 1906, the son of Geerd and Antje (Riekena) Geerdes and received his education in the rural school in the area.

On February 12, 1929, he was married to Grace Eekhoff at the First Christian Reformed Church parsonage by the Rev. H. C. Bode. Following their marriage they began farming and lived on various farms in Grundy county. In 1973 they retired from the farm and moved to Wellsburg to make their home.

He was a long-time member of the First Christian Reformed Church of Wellsburg having made Confession of Faith on April 3, 1931. He had served on the church consistory, both as a Deacon and as an Elder.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, Steven Richard, who passed away in 1941; a brother, Jake G. Geerdes, and a sister, Bessie, (Mrs. Evert) Bleeker.

Those left to mourn his passing are his wife, Grace; one son, Gordon Geerdes of Steamboat Rock, one daughter, Alvena, (Mrs. Robert) Veurink of Grant, MI; nine grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters and 3 brothers, Gratus G. Geerdes of Ackley; Edward G. Geerdes of Ackley; Verna, (Mrs. Abe) Wilts of Ackley; Alfred G. Geerdes of Gladbrook; Freda, (Mrs. George) Harms of Steamboat Rock; and many other relatives and friends.

--The Grundy Register/Wellsburg Herald (Grundy Center, Iowa), 9 May 1985