Gert Blom

     Gert Blom 67, of Sioux Center, IA, died Sunday, October 16, 2016, at Sioux Center Health at Sioux Center, IA.

       Memorial service will be held on Friday at 11:00AM at the Faith Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Pastors Bob Pollema and Dave Smit officiating.

      Prayer service for family and friends will be held on Friday at 10:00AM at the Faith Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center.  Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

      Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5-7PM, with the family present at the Faith Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center.

 The family requests that memorials be made to Mission Haiti – Sioux Falls (PO Box 2175 Sioux Falls, SD 57101-2175).

     Gertrude Elaine Haverhals Blom, 67 of Sioux Center, IA went to her eternal home on October 16, 2016. She was born in Sioux County on September 10, 1949 to Peter and Josephine (Van De Burg) Haverhals.  Gert attended Lebanon Christian School and Western Christian High School before attending Dordt College where she graduated with a BA degree in elementary education.  While at college she met Gordon Blom from Ripon, CA.  They were married on WEDNESDAY – July 29, 1970.  They chose this date because both of their parents were married on that day also.  Gert taught grades 3, 4 & 5 at Lebanon Christian.  After 2 years of teaching they were ready to start a family, but God’s timing was different than theirs.  So Gert began working part time at Sioux Feed Co. in Sioux Center for many years, but taking years off from “work” to raise their children until they went to school.  Later she worked for 10 years at the Dordt College Admissions Office.  After several years of marriage, they were blessed with 3 children – Daniel Scott, Steven Mark and Sara Nicole.  Gert loved being mom and later grandma to 8 wonderful grandchildren.  She loved them all “to the moon and back”.  She enjoyed baking and cooking.  She often said “You can’t trust a skinny cook”.  Hundreds of Dordt students were the recipients of her meals.  The family cherishes the many friends and connections they have made over the years of hosting Dordt students in their home.  She believed in the power and strength of Jesus’ love, and the peace that would await her after her passing.  Her strong love for the Lord was evident throughout her life, but especially grew through the difficult situations in life – the most recent being her struggle with ovarian cancer.  Worship and Bible study were also means of growing in the grace and love of God.  She was a member of Lebanon CRC and later Gert and Gord became charter members of Faith CRC in Sioux Center, IA.

     Gert will be greatly missed by her husband of 46 years, Gord Blom, who lovingly demonstrated “in sickness and in health” over the past 2 years; their children, Dan and Emily Blom and children Marshall and Morgan of Norwalk, IA; Steve and Sally Blom and children Gretchen, Simon and Jonas of Sauk Village, IL; Sara and Tim Mulder and children Logan, Aubrey and Regan of Sioux Falls, SD.

     She is survived by her siblings Pete and Anne Haverhals (Lynwood, WA), JoAnn Dekkenga (Northglenn, CO), and sister-in-law Nora Haverhals-Bohl (Sioux Center, IA), and dear aunt, Adelene Haverhals (Lynden, WA).  Also by Gord’s mother, Ann Blom (Ripon, CA) and his siblings: Myron Blom (Auburn CA), Rod and Thea Blom (Grand Rapids, MI), Stan and Anita Blom (South Bend, IN), and Bev (Blom) and Ron Bennet (Hilmar, CA).

     Gert was predeceased by her parents, Peter and Josephine Haverhals, and brothers, Willard and David, and father-in-law, John Blom.

Officiating

Pastors Bob Pollema  &  Dave Smit

Congregational Hymns

“When Peace Like a River” vs 1-3

“Precious Lord, Take My Hand”

“Amazing Grace”  &  “In Christ Alone”

“10,000 Reasons” vs 3

“When Peace Like A River” vs 4

“By The Sea of Crystal”

Special Music by Kevin Hulstein

“There Is A Redeemer” &  “No More Night”

Mary Bierma, Organist & Accompanist

Casket Bearers

Pete Haverhals     Kyle Van Zee   Verlyn De Wit

Tom Van Den Bosch  Quentin Van Essen  Harold Mellema