Gerrit John Kruid

     A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center with Rev. John Lee officiating.

     A prayer service for family and friends will be held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 7th at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center. Family and friends are asked to be at the church by 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow the prayer service at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center.

     Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 6th from 5:00 – 7:00 PM, with the family present at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center.

     Gerrit John Kruid was born on July 28, 1931, to James and Elizabeth (Boone) Kruid, near Ireton, IA.

     Gerrit attended the country schools in Carnes and Ireton, IA. He then worked on a farm with his parents. Later, he worked at the Sinkey Garage in Ireton, until he entered the Army from 1953-1955, where he served in Hawaii and in the Korean War.

     On May 11, 1955, Gerrit married Cynthia Joan Draayer at the First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center, IA.

     In 1956, Gerrit and Cynthia moved to a farm by Hawarden, IA and six years later in 1962, they moved to Ireton where Gerrit worked at Siouxland Implement until 1967. He then went back to farming and opened Kruid’s Repair Shop near Lebanon, IA. He and his wife moved to Sioux Center in 1998 and continued farming until 2005. Gerrit enjoyed farming so much, he continued helping a neighbor in the spring and fall until 2013 at the age of 83.

     Gerrit was a past member of Ireton Christian Reformed Church, Lebanon Christian Reformed Church, and current member at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center. He served as a deacon in both the Ireton and Lebanon churches. He also served on the Ireton, Lebanon and Sioux Center Christian School boards.

     Gerrit and Cynthia enjoyed wintering in Arizona for twenty-seven years. He loved to attend his grandchildren’s programs and other events, such as volleyball and basketball games and many other activities involving his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He also participated in numerous tractor rides, and in 2016 participated in an “Honor Flight” to Washington, D.C.

    
     Gerrit is survived by his loving wife Cynthia of sixty-two years; six children: Glenda (Harold) Van Ginkel of Rock Valley, IA, Cheryl (Alan) Sandbulte of Maurice, IA, Gary (Gloria) Kruid of Sioux Center, IA, Beverly (John) Vanden Bosch of Rock Valley, IA, Dawn (Paul) Kroese of Orange City, IA and Denise (Darin) Blankespoor of Orange City, IA; seventeen grandchildren and thirty great-grandchildren; eight siblings: Gretta Huenink, Gertrude (Brands) Kruid, Adrian (Greeta) Kruid, Evelyn Kamstra, Elmer Kruid, Linda (Van Wyhe) Bockelman, Elaine (Lee) Hofland, Geraldine Kruid, Esther (Warren) Willis, Geneva Jansen; and inlaws: Mitch Regnerus, Dorothy Draayer, Gert Draayer, Gladys De Weerd, Gary (Sandy) Draayer and Kenneth (Belle) Draayer; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Elizabeth Kruid; three infant sibings: Donna Mae, Marcella Jane, and Lester Duane; brothers: Melvin Kruid and James A. Kruid; sisters: Ella Marie Regnerus, Hermina (Charles) Vande Kamp, Arlene (Ted) Driesen; in-laws: Rich Huenink, Henry and Wilmina (Draayer) Kramer, Nick Draayer, John and Katherine (Draayer) Calkhoven, John and Anna (Draayer) De Weerd, Edwin and Lillian (Van Driel) Draayer, John Draayer, Wilbur and Jeanette (Eenkhoorn) Draayer and Gerald De Weerd.