Hegeman, Gertrude "Truus" (Mrs. Rev. Cornelis) 1922-2021

HEGEMAN, VANWINGERDEN

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/27/2021 at 14:54:35

LYNDEN, WA—Gertrude Hegeman, 99, Lynden, WA, formerly of Sioux Center, died , Saturday, June 12, 2021.

In the Lord’s time, He took our dear mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother “Oma” Truus Hegeman (nee Van Wingerden) to Himself.

Visitation will be held 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 22, at Gillies Funeral Home in Lynden, WA. Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 23, at the Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Lynden, with the Rev. John Den Hoed officiating. Graveside committal will follow at the Monumenta Cemetery in Lynden.

Gertrude “Truus” was born May 31, 1922, to Leendert and Aplonia Van Wingerden in Ridderkerk, the Netherlands. She was the third child in a family of 11 children. Before her marriage she aided her parents in their agrarian business and taught needlecraft at a grade school in Ridderkerk. She was a member of the Netherlands Reformed Congregations (NRC) her entire life. In 1946, she married Cornelis Hegeman, then a seminary student of the NRC. After the birth of their eldest son, Johan, her husband accepted a pastoral position at the NRC church in Paterson, NJ, USA, which meant they had to immigrate to the USA. There her daughters, Lona, Nella and Trudy were born. In 1952, the family moved to Sioux Center, IA, where her husband was the pastor of the NRC church. In this immigrant community, she flourished, and her youngest sons, Neal and Ben were born. In 1957, she, her husband and six children moved back to the Netherlands to live in Genemuiden. Truus and family moved again within five years back to Sioux Center where they lived for an additional five years, after which they moved to Markham, Ontario, Canada where they lived for five years. Finally, the minister couple again returned to the Netherlands where they served in Tholen, Veenendaal and Ermelo.

Several years after her husband passed away, Truus went to live near her Van Wingerden siblings in Pompton Plains, NJ. With their help, she was able to live a comfortable life, correspond much with children and grandchildren, volunteer at the NRC school library, and aid other family members with sewing and mending of clothes. In 2015, Truus accepted an invitation to live with her daughter, Trudy in Lynden, WA and she was immensely grateful for that. Truus’ final years were occupied with much reading and staying connected with her family and friends. Her ability to stay involved in their lives was notable and very much appreciated, especially by her 11 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, living in Africa, Europe, Canada and USA. The family is thankful Oma was cared for with much love and devotion by her daughter, Trudy at their home until her passing away.

She is survived by five children: Johan Hegeman of Ede, the Netherlands; Lona Hegeman of Yellowknife, NWT, Canada; Trudy Hegeman of Lynden, WA; Neal Hegeman of Anniston, AL; Benjamin Hegeman of Houghton, NY; five brothers: John Van Wingerden of Lynden, WA; Case Van Wingerden, Augusta, NJ; Bill Van Wingerden, Pompton Plains, NJ; Arie Van Wingerden, Pompton Plains, NJ; and Abraham Van Wingerden, Pompton Plains, NJ; two sisters, Christina De Groot (nee Van Wingerden), Pompton Plains, NJ and Jannie Van Vugt (nee Van Wingerden), Pompton Plains, NJ.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Cornelis Hegeman, who passed away in 1981 in Ermelo, the Netherlands; and her daughter, Nella, who passed away in 2006 in Prince Albert, Sask, Canada.

She lived by her faith in the Lord. “I love the LORD, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116: 1-2)

Source: nwestiowa.com online obituary.