Gert Wissink

Gertrude Wissink, 86, of Sioux Center, IA died Monday, October 14, 2013, at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center. A visitation with the family present will be held Saturday 10-11AM at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. A funeral service will be held Saturday at 11AM at First Reformed Church with Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating. Interment will follow the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. The Wissink family prefers memorials benefit Heritage Village or First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Gertrude Evelyn Wissink was born January 11, 1927 on a farm northwest of Sioux Center, Iowa to Henry John and Wilhelmina (Van Putten) Wissink. In March of 1932 she and her family moved into Sioux Center. Gert graduated from Sioux Center High School with the Class of 1944. Gert then completed Normal Training and taught country school for one year. In December of 1950 she began selling advertising for the Sioux Center Shopper. She was offered a job as bookkeeper at Ver Hoef Chevrolet. She was a dedicated employee for Ver Hoef's for 39 years, retiring on January 15, 1990. During this time Gert lived with and later cared for her parents. Gert was an active member of the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. She taught Sunday school and directed the Youth Choir for several years. Gert also sang in the adult choir, Women's Chorus and played in the church orchestra. For a period of time she played her trombone in the city band which played in the downtown band shell, and was one of six women who sang with the Legion Male Chorus. Gert was a loving, supportive aunt to her nieces and nephews. Lovingly referred to as "Tante Gert", she filled much of her spare time attending her nieces and nephews many activities. Tante Gert was also the family "party planner" - planning all the Wissink family holiday gatherings for many years, and having everyone participate in special game challenges - creating much laughter and wonderful memories. In her later years Gert helped initiate Heritage Village at the Sioux County Fairgrounds, serving as its board chairman for five years. She sang with the Senior Saints group and also enjoyed traveling throughout the country with friends. Survivors include one sister-in-law, Gerdena Wissink of Sioux Center; along with her twenty nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Gert was preceded in death by her brother, Marion Wissink; brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Rosie Wissink; sister, Everly Popovich; sister and brother-in-law, Winona and Henry "Junior" Jansen Jr.; a nephew, Steve Popovich and great nephew, Sean Wissink.