Gertie Eiklenborg

Gertie Eiklenborg, 97, of Dike, passed away on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at NewAldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls, while under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice. Visitation for Gertie will be held on Thursday, August 9th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Engelkes-Abels Dike Chapel, 680 Main St., Dike, IA. The funeral service will be held on Friday, August 10th at 10:30 AM at the Stout Reformed Church in Stout, preceded by an hour of visitation. Burial will follow the funeral service at the Stout Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Gertie was born in Holland on March 29, 1921, to her parents Chris & Annie (Stopplemoor) Kruger. She grew up near Parkersburg and Stout, where she attended country school. On March 15, 1946, Gertie was united in marriage to Elmer Eiklenborg at the Christian Reformed Church Parsonage in Parkersburg. The couple welcomed three children into their family. Gertie worked mostly as a homemaker but also farmed alongside her husband for 17 years. In 1966, the family moved to Dike and Gertie began working in the cafeteria at the Dike School for over 8 years.

She was a faithful member of the Stout Reformed Church. Gertie enjoyed all Iowa sports and loved the Hawkeyes! She also was a huge baseball fan, rooting on the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago Cubs. In her later years, she enjoyed traveling on bus tours with her husband. Her true joy in life was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She was fortunate enough to be able to be called “Great-great grandma” and her time on earth was well spent. She will be dearly missed by her loved ones.

Gertie is survived by her children Dennis Eiklenborg of Buffalo, MN, Cheryl (Al) Smeins and Delores Eiklenborg, both of Dike; grandchildren Derek (Dani) Eiklenborg of Buffalo, MN, Dustin (Kelly) Eiklenborg of North Branch, MN, Brent (Kim) Smeins and Curt (Peggy) Smeins, both of Dike and Jennifer (Travis) Ackerman of Tripoli, IA; 12 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild and one more on the way. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Elmer; brothers, Klaas, Harm & Chris Kruger and sisters Marie Pruin, Berdine Bolhuis, Leona Decknadel, Jennie Van Hauen, Ruth Wendt and Anona Knipfel.