Gertrude Bouw

Gertrude Bouw, 94, of Sioux Center, died Thursday, November 23, 2006 at the Royale Meadows Care Center of Sioux Center.

A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, 11/25, at 2pm Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center with Reverend Stephen Rhoda officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

Visitation will be held Saturday, 11/25, prior to the service from noon to 2pm at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

Gertrude (Vander Veen) Bouw was born July 26, 1912 to Hitjo Joe and Mary (Van Kley) Vander Veen on a farm west of Orange City, Iowa. After her fathers death, her mother remarried Maas Blankespoor. Gertrude then had a step brother and step sister.

Gertrude attended the Sioux Center Christian School, graduating from the eighth grade in 1925. As a young woman she did home nursing, child care and some farm work. She was employed at De Jong Hatchery in Sioux Center for nine years.

Gertrude married Henry Bouw in 1951, making their home in Hospers for the next twenty years. They then settled in Sioux Center. Henry preceded Gertrude in death in 1970. She continued to live in their home until September 19, 1999 when she became a resident of the Sioux Center Nursing Facility, now Royale Meadows Care Center. She was a member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center where she taught childrens Sunday school for several years.

Surviving are several nieces and nephews from the Schouten and Blankespoor side of the family: Sally Kruger, Bob Schouten, Rose Schouten, Mary (Keith) Bonnema, Carol (Mark) Bandstra all of Sioux Center, Morry (Rose) Blankespoor of Pella, IA, Sandra Blankespoor of Inwood, Dave (Pat) Blankespoor of Highlands Ranch, CO, Ruth Buskohl of Sioux Falls, Lois (Lyle) Van De Griend of Orange City and Bob (Phyle) Blankespoor of Inwood.

In addition to her husband, Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents, step sister and brother-in-law, Celia and Peter Schouten; step brother and sister-in-law, Henry M. and Wilmyka Blankespoor; niece, Toots Harskamp and two nephews: Pete Schouten and Jim Blankespoor.

Gertrude often stated, The Lord has led me all the way; to God be the glory.