Gertrude Franken

Gertrude Franken, 94, of Sioux Center, IA died Monday, October 7, 2013, at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center. A visitation will be held on Thursday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 5-7PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A Funeral service will be held on Friday at 10:30AM at First Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Joel Bensema officiating. Interment will follow the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. The Franken Family prefer memorials be directed to the Sioux Center Veteran's Memorial Fund. Gertrude Franken was born on March 31, 1919 to William and Hattie (Vermeer) Vis in Hull, Iowa. She was raised in Hull and attended Hull Christian School. Gert married Everett L. Franken on December 6, 1946 in Hull. The couple made their home in Sioux Center where Gert worked at the Holland House and the House of Fashion. She also spent many hours helping Everett on the farm. They were blessed with two children, Arlin Franken who was killed in the Vietnam War in 1969, and Harvella (Franken) Bahrenfuss. Everett passed away July 2, 2007. Gert became a resident of Crown Pointe Assisted Living in 2005 and Royale Meadows Care Center in 2009. Gert enjoyed spending her free time crocheting, singing, playing piano, visiting shut-ins and cooking. She was a faithful member of First Reformed Church in Sioux Center and was proud to be a Gold Star Mother. Those left to cherish Gert's memory are her daughter, Harvella Bahrenfuss and her husband, Roger of Sioux Center; grandchildren, Tom Bahrenfuss and his wife Cali of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Brook(Bahrenfuss) Anderson and her husband, Dave of Sioux Center; great-grandchildren, Carter and Brody Bahrenfuss of Sioux Falls and Neely Anderson of Sioux Center; a brother, John (Bertha) Vis of Grand Rapids, Michigan; three sisters: Katherine Van Kley of Rock Valley, Margaret (Jake) Teunissen of Rock Valley, Cornelia (Harold) Vander Molen of Manhattan, Montana; sisters-in-law, Edith Vis of Grandville, Michigan and Gertrude Vis of Rock Valley as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Gertrude is preceded in death by her husband, Everett; son, Arlin Franken. Three sisters: Elizabeth (Cornie) Zevenbergen, Henrietta (Rev. Bob) Cammenga and Nell Vis; four brothers: Rev. Peter (Esther) Vis, Edward Vis, Walter Vis, and Gerrit Vis; brothers-in-law, Gary Van Kley, Harold Van Otterloo and Phil Flikkema. Gertrude was very much loved at Royale Meadows by all those who cared for her, and she was grateful for all the love and care given to her. Gert adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.