GEERDES, George H. 1886-1952

GEERDES, RIEKENA

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 12/20/2016 at 07:13:33

Geo. H. Geerdes Passed Away After Short Illness

Wellsburg people were grieved to learn of the death of George H. Geerdes which occurred at the Allen Memorial hospital in Waterloo on Saturday night, Aug. 2. He had not been in his usual health for sometime before entering the hospital, but it was hoped that he would receive benefit from the treatment. Mr. Geerdes was a life long resident of Wellsburg and community. He always took an active part in the affairs of the community and was willing to help in everything that was for the betterment of the community.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the home and later at the First Christian Reformed church west of Wellsburg. Interment was in the church cemetery. Services were conducted by Mr. Andrew J. Bandstra, student pastor of the church and Rev. John Olthoff, pastor of the Second Reformed church.

George H. Geerdes was born on a farm three miles west of Wellsburg on October 9, 1886. He died on the evening of August 2, 1952 at the Allen Memorial hospital in Waterloo, having attained the age of sixty-five years, nine months and twenty-three days. Death was due to uremia. He became ill on July 8, and was taken to the hospital on July 21.

He was graduated from the Grundy Center high school in 1906, and attended business college at Cedar Rapids for two years. He also taught school for one year in Shiloh District No. 3. He started in the banking business while a young man and worked up through all the departments. At the time of his retirement in January 1950 he was president of the Peoples Savings Bank of Wellsburg, which position he had held for a number of years. He was in the banking business in Wellsburg for 40 years.

Mr. Geerdes also held other positions of public trust. He was town clerk for 37 years and held this position up to the time of his death; also school treasurer of Shiloh township for many years, and served Grundy county as supervisor for one term.

He was married to Trena Reikena on August 24, 1911 at Wellsburg by the Rev. G. L. Hoefker. To this marriage was born one son and one daughter, Harold of Wellsburg and Mrs. John Fraseur of Tipton, Iowa. Mr. Geerdes was a member of the First Christian Ref. church of Wellsburg.

Surviving are the wife, Mrs. Trena Geerdes, one son, Harold of Wellsburg, one daughter, Mrs. John Fraseur of Tipton, two grandchildren, Kaye Karyl Geerdes of Wellsburg, and John Randall Fraseur of Tipton. One sister Mrs. R. G. Gimer of Wellsburg, two step-sisters, Mrs. Frieda Williams of Wellsburg and Mrs. Ray Lillibridge of Rockwell, Iowa, and two step-brothers, W. W. and D. W. Riekena of Wellsburg. He was preceded in death by his father and mother and step-mother.

--The Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 7 August 1952, pg 1

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George H. Geerdes Dies Saturday At Hospital

George H. Geerdes, who spent his entire active lifetime in Wellsburg and community, died at the Allen Memorial hospital in Waterloo at 11:35 last Saturday night. He had been in failing health the past two months. He was taken to the hospital twelve days before his death. Immediate cause of his death was uremic poisoning. He would have been 66 years old on his next birthday.

Associated With Wellsburg Bank 39 Years
Few men have been actively engaged in business in Wellsburg and have held so many offices of public trust for so many years as George Geerdes. Banking was his major business. He was engaged in that business for 39 years before he retired three years ago. He came to the Wellsburg bank as a youngster of 22 after he had completed a commercial course in a business college at Cedar Rapids. The late Charles Biebesheimer was cashier and manager of the bank at the time. George Geerdes started at the bottom of bank positions and he had been advanced to the head of the bank up to the time of his retirement. The name of the bank changed during his period of service from the Wellsburg Savings Bank to the Peoples Savings Bank. The business of the bank remained in the same building. His association with the bank was for a longer period than than served by any other, and much of the credit for the growth and stability of the bank was due to his management. Since retiring from the bank he devoted his time to the management of his property and assisting old customers with their income tax.

George Geerdes held many public offices during his lifetime and he filled them well and satisfactorily. He served one term as a member of the county board of supervisors from the Shiloh-Melrose district. He was a member of the Wellsburg board of education and for many years served as school treasurer. For 37 years he served continually as Wellsburg town clerk and he held that position at the time of his death.

The death of George Geerdes is deeply regretted. He had many friends who are going to miss him. The death of such a fine man is a loss to any community where he has lived.

Was Born on Shiloh Township Farm
George Geerdes was a son of Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Geerdes. He was born on a Shiloh township farm Oct. 9, 1886, and attended school there. After completing the grades he attended the high school at Grundy Center, from which he was graduated. After completing his high school course he finished a course in a business college at Cedar Rapids.

On August 24, 1911, George Geerdes and Trena Riekena were married. Their home has been in Wellsburg continually. They are the parents of a son, Harold, Wellsburg, and a daughter, Mrs. John Fraseur, Tipton. There are two grandchildren. Mrs. Ray Gimer, Wellsburg, is the only surviving sister. There are two surviving step-sisters, Mrs. Jerry Williams, Wellsburg, and Mrs. Ray Lillibridge, Rockwell, Iowa. There are two step-brothers, W. W. Riekena and D. W. Riekena, Wellsburg.

Funeral Services Wednesday
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, at one o'clock from the home and later at the First Christian Reformed church of which Mr. Geerdes had been a member since boyhood. There was a very large attendance at the church service. Burial was in the cemetery adjoining the church.

Casketbearers were Harry and William Williams, Willard Riekena, Mayo Tjaden, Raymond Junker and August Schaefer.

The services were conducted by Rev. John Olthoff and student pastor Bandstra.

Music was by the church quartet composed of Harvey Eilers, Alfred Eilers, John H. Primus and Claus G. Primus.

Business Houses Closed
All business in Wellsburg was suspended during the period of funeral services.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 7 August 1952, sec 2, pg 6