Gertrude Frances (Cooper) KNOLL

KNOLL, COOPER, BENNINGA, SOWERS, CORE, WRIGHT, GILBERT, SOVEREIGN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/16/2009 at 11:08:13

August 19, 2008
Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa.

MASON CITY - Gertrude Frances Knoll, 96, died Saturday (Aug. 16, 2008) at the Good Shepherd Health Care Center, Mason City. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008, at the Rolling Acres Christian Reformed Church, 340 20th St. S.W. in Mason City, with the Rev. Jack Vanden Heuvel officiating. Burial will be in the Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City.
Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. today, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008, at the Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City, and continue one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church. Memorials may be directed to the Rolling Acres Christian Reformed Church, Newman Catholic Elementary Library and Hospice of North Iowa.

Gertrude Frances Cooper was born in rural Wright County on April 24, 1912, the ninth child of thirteen to John and Johanna (Benninga) Cooper. She graduated from Kanawha High School in 1929. After high school, she worked various jobs for area farm families. On March 30, 1933, she was united in marriage to Clayton "Bud" Knoll at the Lutheran Parsonage in Clear Lake. To this union two children were born: a daughter, Janice, and a son, Jerry. Gertrude and Bud lived on the family farm in Kanawha and farmed until their retirement. They moved to Mason City in 1971, where Gertrude worked for several area restaurants including at King's Food Host making pies. Her greatest love was spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, trying new recipes, walking, traveling and taking bus trips. Gertrude and Bud enjoyed many years volunteering at the Newman Catholic Elementary cafeteria. She was a member of the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, catechism and she was the secretary of the ladies aid. When she moved to Mason City, Gertrude and Bud were members of the Rolling Acres Christian Reformed Church, where they enjoyed participating in various activities and attending Bible studies.

She is survived by her children, Janice Sowers, of Cresco, and Jerry (Barb) Knoll, of Mason City; grandchildren, Kay (Larry) Core, of Springfield, Va., Brian Sowers, of Marshalltown, Ryan (Molly) Knoll, of Mason City, Angie (Todd) Gilbert, of Clear Lake, Arlene Wright, of Waterloo, DeeAnn (Rick) Sovereign, of Cresco; 13 great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Gertrude is preceded in death by her parents, John and Johanna Cooper; husband Bud of 74 years, on March 13, 2008; granddaughter, Sara Knoll; great-grandson, Dylan Sowers; son-in-law, Darrell Sowers; grandson-in-law, Bob Wright; eight brothers, four sisters, eight sisters-in-law, and three brothers-in-law. Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel.