Gertrude Vander Ploeg

Gertrude Vander Ploeg, 93, of Sioux Center, IA died Thursday, January 5, 2012 at the Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars, IA. A visitation will be held Sunday from 2-8PM, with the family present from 2-4PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A funeral service will be held Monday at 10AM at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating. Interment will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. The Vander Ploeg family prefers memorials to Sioux Center Community Hospital Foundation or Northwestern College. Gertrude Vander Ploeg was born on June 12, 1918, to Peter and Tryntje (Ploegstra) Stegenga near Hull, Iowa. She was raised on a farm near Rock Valley, Iowa. She received her education through 8th grade in Rock Valley. She did housework for several people and also worked in the Rock Valley bakery for several years baking cookies. On August 19, 1955, she married Theodore Vander Ploeg in Rock Valley. They farmed near Sioux Center until retirement in 1981 when they moved to Sioux Center. Theodore passed away March 16, 1981. Gertrude remained in her home until moving to Franken Manor Assisted Living in August of 2009. She moved to Plymouth Manor two weeks before her death. The family is grateful for the care she received in these two facilities. Gertrude was a member of First Reformed Church in Sioux Center. She was a member of the Ruth and Naomi Circles. She babysat for the MOPS group, volunteered at the local elementary school and at the community hospital. Her interests included embroidery, baking, visiting with people, and spending time with her family. Survivors include: one daughter, Carol (Greg) Law of Remsen, Iowa; and one son, Mark (Julie) Vander Ploeg of Manteno, IL; 10 grandchildren: Sarah (Darren) Johnson, Sylvia (Tim) Larson, Dan (Tamara) Law, Isaac (Emily) Law, Ben (Amanda) Law, Susan (Nate) Langel, Justin, Marissa, Ashley, and Elisa Vander Ploeg; 4 great grandchildren; three sisters-in-law: Theresa Vander Ploeg of Sioux Center, Gert Vander Ploeg of Hull, and Bobbie Vander Ploeg of Lynden, WA and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Theodore; parents; two brothers and their wives: Otto (Alice) Stegenga and Richard (Wilmina) Stegenga, two sisters and their husbands, Lena (Shirk) Jouwstra and Jess (John) Mulder and three brothers-in-law, Lawrence, Donald, and Elmer Vander Ploeg.