Raak, Gertrude 'Trudy' (Mrs. Irwin) 1938-2022

RAAK, HAAN, NYMEYER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/22/2022 at 15:35:52

Gertrude (Trudy) Raak
February 26, 1938 ~ April 21, 2022 (age 84)

Gertrude Elaine (Haan) Raak was born February 26, 1938, in Chicago Illinois, to Leonard and Grace (Nymeyer) Haan. She graduated from Western Christian High School, Hull, IA, in 1955 and Dordt College Sioux Center, IA, in 1957.
Irwin and Trudy were married June 4, 1958, in Sioux Center where they lived for the first ten years of their marriage. They then moved to their current farm near Jasper, MN, in 1969.
Trudy was a nurse, a 5th grade teacher at Edgerton Christian Elementary School, a church organist, bookkeeper, secretary and an Agriculture Survey Statistician. Trudy enjoyed reading, knitting, mowing the lawn, landscaping the farmyard and telling stories of her earlier days. She wrote weekly family letters, several books, family histories, and stories of life. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Trudy enjoyed taking care of the small animals on the farm, but never learned to milk a cow (by choice)! Trudy made thousands of meals over the years and would deliver them out to the field for Irv or the boys. Together Trudy and Irv enjoyed playing cards, family vacations by a lake, square dancing and traveling.
Trudy will be remembered by her husband of 63 years, Irwin and their four children: Gene and Margene Raak of Edgerton, MN, Philip and Theresa Raak of Jasper, MN, Michal and Mark Raymon of Black Hawk, SD, and Steve and Anna Raak of Eau Clair, WI; 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; and a sister Elizabeth Mitchell of Vermillion, SD.
Trudy passed away April 21, 2022. She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant son, Keith Richard Raak.