Gerald L. VANDER WOLDE

VANDER WOLDE, TRAMPEL, VAN DRIE, MILLS, ALLISON, TREINEN, RINGO

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/10/2010 at 14:14:46

May 12, 2009
Belmond Independent - Iowa

Gerald "Gerry" Vander Wolde, 72, died May 4, 2009 in New Braunfels, TX following a lengthy battle with declining health. Services were held May 11 at the First Reformed Church in Buffalo Center. Burial was in Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme. Gerald L. was born May 24, 1936 in Martin, SD along with his twin sister Gladys. During childbirth, his mother Gladys Allison died, leaving his father Lee Allison to care for the newborn twins and seven other children. The twins were adopted by Reverend Gerrit and Johanna Vander Wolde. The other children were cared for in different homes. As the twins matured they were united with their brothers and sisters and have celebrated biannual family reunions through the years. Gerry married Joanne Trampel on October 26, 1966 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They made their home and raised their two children in the Klemme area. Gerald worked for Iowa State University and for the town of Klemme, but spent most of his life as a pipeline inspector traveling throughout the U.S. He enjoyed special times with family and friends, fishing, riding horses, his greyhounds, golfing, and playing pool and cards. Gerald will long be remembered for his jokes and pranks. He was a member of Grace Memorial Church of New Braunfels, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, and the Elk's Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his birth parents; his adopted parents; sisters Delores Allison and Shirley Ringo (and her husband Bing); brothers Andrew, John (and his wives Velma June and Dorothy), Jim, and Ken Allison; and brother-in-law Rudy Van Drie. Survivors included his wife of New Braunfels; son Jeffrey of Glendale, AZ; daughter Misty of Ironwood, MI; mother-in-law Ruth Trampel of Klemme; twin sister Gladys Van Drie of Estes Park, CO; sister Mitzi (Harold) Mills of Fairfield Glade, TN; brother Bill (Marlene) Allison of Wheatland, WY; sisters-in-law Anna Allison of Gordon, NE, Mabel Allison of Hot Springs, SD and Dixie (Larry) Treinen of Klemme; and brothers-in-law Richard (Diane) Trampel and Terry (Tracy) Trampel of Klemme.