Gerzema, Velma (1923-2014)
GERZEMA, MADSEN, KIMPEL, MILLER, BAY, SOLAND, PEDERSEN
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 5/10/2014 at 14:19:41
Velma Gerzema
(November 29, 1923 - April 20, 2014)Velma Gerzema, 90, of Titonka, formerly of Buffalo Center, went to be with the Lord and her husband, Alvin, on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014, at the Hancock Memorial Hospital in Britt.
Velma Louise (Madsen) Gerzema was born on November 29, 1923, to Ida and Adolf Madsen, at Bradgate, Iowa. Baptized and confirmed in Trinity Lutheran Church, Rutland, Iowa, she attended and graduated from Bradgate High School.
On January 1, 1945, Velma married Alvin Gerzema at the First Reformed Church parsonage. Together, they farmed the Gerzema home farm south of Buffalo Center for forty years where they raised three children: Gary, Dean, and Lorraine.
After her marriage, Velma became an active member of the First Reformed Church, serving several times in RCW offices. She taught Sunday School and was elected to serve as Elder just prior to her first stroke. She loved her Lord, His Church, and the Christian fellowship of its members. In addition to her church related activities, she also served in offices of the local PTA, the Winnebago Women’s Association, the Winnebago County Extension and 4-H, and the Farm Bureau Women’s Organization. For her active participation at the Winnebago County Fair in the 4-H building, she was honored as an honorary 4-H and FFA member.
Velma enjoyed preparing food for anyone that visited. An avid writer and historian, she made scrapbooks of events in her community as well as those of her children. She really enjoyed working with Alvin in refinishing projects and woodworking. Passersby could often see her outside on her H Farmall working around the yard or on her Dixon mower with grandchildren aboard. Always available to babysit, she loved her grandchildren most of all.
Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Gary and Lesia, of Monticello, Minnesota, Dean and Mary, of Buffalo Center, and Lorraine (Gert) and Jim Miller, of Elmore, Minnesota; twelve grandchildren: Amber (Travis) Bay; Brent (Abbey), Ethan, Evan, Jennifer, Jonathan, Katrina, and Matthew Gerzema; Dawn Kimpel; Bo (Stephanie), Lucas (Shawn), and Nathan (Teri) Miller; and Kristin (Travis) Soland; and her great-grandchildren: Agatha, Charolette, and Oliver Bay; Aiden, Elias, Gabriel, and Tobias Gerzema; Nora, Raina, Sullivan, and Tommy Miller; and Landon and Peyton Soland.
Velma was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Alvin, in 2003; her parents; a brother, Harley; and two sisters, Alice and Eunice in infancy; and by her second family who raised her: Aunt Laura and Uncle Willis Pedersen.
A Memorial Service celebrating her life will be held at 5:00 PM, Saturday, April 26, 2014, at the First Reformed Church, Buffalo Center, with Pastor Bill Peake officiating. Inurnment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church.
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Winter Funeral Home and Cremation Service
Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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