Gertrude Elizabeth (Miedema) MESSAMAKER VAN GORP

VAN GORP, MESSAMAKER, MIEDEMA, DEWITT, SCHUMACHER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/20/2008 at 09:29:18

Gertrude E. Van Gorp, 80, of Thor, passed away August 1, 2005 at the Humboldt Care Center North. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel of the Mason- Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt with the Rev, H.W. Schiller officiating. Burial will be in West Ullensvang Cemetery, Thor. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. today at the Mason- Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt.

Mrs. Van Gorp is survived by her son and daughter-in-law. Rich and Donna Van Gorp of Thor; two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Thelma DeWitt and Wilma Schumacher, and brothers, Harold and Delmar Miedema.

Gertie Elizabeth Miedema, the daughter of William and Sarah Miedema, was born November 10, 1924 at Pella. Iowa where she was raised and educated, in 1942, she was united in marriage to Richard Messamaker and the couple made their home in Pella where the Pella Roll Screen employed Gertie for 20 years. Mr. Messamaker passed away in 1956 and in 1957 she was married to Raymond Van Gorp. The Van Gorp's made their home in Pella until moving to New Sharon where they owned and operated Ray's Tap. In 1964, they moved to Thor where they were in the tavern business until Raymond's death in 1975. Gertie continued to maintain her home in Thor until becoming a resident of the Humboldt Care Center North in May of 2001. Van Gorp was a member of the Ullensvang Lutheran Church. She loved her grandchildren and enjoyed Crocheting, Gardening, and bingo.

The Pella Chronicle, IA
August 8, 2005