BAKKER, Gerald M. 1910-1976

BAKKER, BENINGA, GEERDES

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 12/18/2016 at 12:30:36

Gerald Bakker, Former County Supervisor, Dies

Gerald M. Bakker passed away very suddenly early Wednesday morning, April 14, 1976 at his home in Wellsburg due to an apparent heart attack. He reached the age of 65 years, 9 months and 23 days.

He was born on a farm in Shiloh township southwest of Wellsburg on June 21, 1910, the son of Menne and Grace (Beninga) Bakker. In 1919 the family moved to a farm in the Dike area. He attended the rural schools in the Wellsburg and Dike areas. On January 30, 1936, he was married to Miss Grace Geerdes at the Lincoln Center Christian Reformed Church Parsonage by the Rev. John Schuurmann. Following their marriage they lived on a farm near Beaman for one year and then moved to a farm 4 miles west of Wellsburg. In 1972, they returned from the farm and moved to Wellsburg to make their home.

Gerald served on the Grundy County Board of Supervisors for 5 years, from 1970 through 1974. He was active in community affairs in Wellsburg.

He was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church of Wellsburg having joined by transfer of membership from the Lincoln Center Christian Reformed Church on March 8, 1938. He served on the Church Consistory for several years.

His father preceded him in death.

Those left to mourn his untimely passing are his wife, Grace; 2 daughters and 2 sons, Mrs. Dick D. (Mardell) Werkman of Wellsburg, Mrs. Larry (Joyce) Dreesman of Dike, Glen Bakker of Steamboat Rock, Merle Bakker of Wellsburg; 9 grandchildren; his aged mother, Mrs. Grace Bakker, now confined to the Long Term Care Unit of the Grundy Memorial Hospital; 1 sister and 4 brothers, Herman Bakker of Holland, Mrs. Joe (Elsie) Graves of Dike, John Bakker of Dike, Louis Bakker of Dike, Rev. Paul Bakker of Rock Valley, Iowa and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Friday afternoon, April 16, 1976 at 1:30 p.m. at the First Christian Reformed Church. Rev. K. Tebben officiated at the services. The Messengers, Richard Schafer, Lary Riebkes, Arnold Eiten, and Melvin Haupt, sang several selections accompanied by Mrs. LuRay Meyer. Miss Marcia Geerdes was organist. Flower attendants were Mrs. Ben G. Geerdes and Mrs. Jans Mennenga. Paul bearers were Calvin Werkman, Jonas Geerdes, Virgil Heetland, Wayne Graves, Dale Bakker, and James Bakker. Interment was made in the First Christian Reformed Church cemetery.

--The Grundy Register/Wellsburg Herald (Grundy Center, Iowa), 22 April 1976, sec 2, pg 1