Gert Vonk

Gertrude Vonk, 87, of Sioux Center, IA, formerly of Mountain Lake, MN, died Monday, January 28, 2013, at the Sioux Center Community Hospital. A visitation will be held on Saturday from 10-11AM at the Bethel Christian Reformed church of Sioux Center. A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 11:00AM at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Duane Tinklenberg officiating. Interment will follow the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. Gertrude (Hulstein) Vonk was born on March 23, 1925 near Carmel, IA to Conrad and Grace (Van Maanen) Hulstein. She attended country school through the 8th grade. On July 26, 1946, Gert married Henry Vonk in Sioux Center, IA, making their home and farming there until 1952. They continued farming in 1952 after moving to Montevideo, MN and in 1964 near Heron Lake, MN. While on the farm Gert enjoyed working by her husband's side when needed while her sons where in school. In 1988, they retired from farming, but continued to live on the farm to assist their son, Myron and family. They moved to Mountain Lake, MN in 1998. Gert moved to Crown Pointe in Sioux Center November 2010. For the last year she has been a resident at the Royale Meadows Care Center of Sioux Center. In the past Gert volunteered at the Good Samaritan Village, Elizabeth House and Care & Share Shop. She served as an Awana teacher, and participated in Ladies Bible Study group and Midway Homemakers. Gert's spare time was filled with reading, walking, gardening and refinishing furniture. She played the organ and piano throughout her life. Gert and Henry enjoyed traveling together throughout the years. They traveled to several countries and were especially fond of the tours they took of Holland and Australia. They enjoyed going south during the winter months spending a year in Texas and several years in Arizona. Gertrude is preceded in death by her husband, Henry Vonk; her parents, Conrad and Grace Hulstein; her son, Barend Gene Vonk; two brothers: Albertus and Fred Hulstein and five sisters: Myna Albertha Hulstein, Carolyn DeKam, Emma Vogel, Etta Baker, Viola Langfeldt. Gertrude is survived by her two daughters: Geneva (Wayne) Grooters of Rock Rapids and Conda (John) Hammje of Alexandria, MN; her son, Myron (Cathy) Vonk of Heron Lake, MN; 6 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren; 3 sisters: Minerva Vander Streek of Rock Rapids and Winerva Hulstein and Myna Nyhof both of Sioux Center along with numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Gert is also survived by her good friend, Junior Dooyema of Sioux Center.