1929
Virginia
2008
Virginia Geerdes
September 12, 1929 — March 22, 2008
Virginia M. Geerdes, 78, of Wellsburg, Iowa, died Saturday, March 22, 2008, at the Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa. Funeral services will be 1:00 P.M., Thursday, March 27, 2008, at the Wellsburg Reformed Church in Wellsburg, with Pastor Todd Rempe officiating. Burial will follow at the Wellsburg Reformed Church Cemetery in Wellsburg. Visitation will be Wednesday, March 26, 2008, from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., at Doyen-Abels Funeral Home in Wellsburg. Visitation will also be Thursday morning at the funeral home from 9:00 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. The family will be present on Wednesday evening to greet friends. A memorial fund has been established.
Virginia Mae (Aukes) Geerdes was born September 12, 1929, to John and Helen (Evert) Aukes on the Aukes farm home north of Wellsburg, the oldest of six children. Virginia was raised on the farm north of Wellsburg. She attended German No. 7, rural country school through the eighth grade. Virginia then attended and graduated from Wellsburg High School in 1947. She then enrolled in Iowa State Teachers College-now called the University of Northern Iowa-in Cedar Falls, where she received her teaching certificate. Virginia taught country school for several years in Pleasant Valley Township, Grundy County, Iowa. She made her profession of faith on February 17, 1942 at the Pleasant Valley Evangelical Church, now called Pleasant Valley United Methodist, rural Wellsburg. On October 28, 1948, Virginia was united in marriage to Douglas "Fritz" Geerdes at Pleasant Valley Evangelical Church, rural Wellsburg. Her church membership was transferred in January 1961, to the Wellsburg Reformed Church.
Virginia was employed at Fisher Controls in Marshalltown for five years, and was a Newspaper Correspondent for many years, including the Eldora Herald-Index, Marshalltown Times Republican, Ackley World Journal, and KFJB radio. Virginia had been a member of Pleasant Valley Evangelical Church and was a current and active member of Wellsburg Reformed Church. She had served as the Ladies Aid President at both churches, as well as teaching catechism. Her family also sang together many times at church services throughout the years. Virginia helped to start the Library in Wellsburg many years ago. She enjoyed playing the piano and had given lessons in the past. Virginia also enjoyed gardening, homemaking and her family.
Her husband Douglas "Fritz" Geerdes died on January 1, 2008.
She is survived by two daughters, Rebecca Murra and her husband Duane of Lakeville, Minnesota; Jone Henze and her husband Michael of State Center, Iowa; and one son, Rev. Dr. John Geerdes and his wife Johanna of Statesboro, Georgia; nine grandchildren-Andrew Murra and his wife Kristin of Richfield, Minnesota; Belynda Bennett and her husband Turner of Shakopee, Minnesota; John Geerdes and his wife Jean, Anna Kersey and her husband Matthew, Paula Geerdes, and Vanessa Geerdes, all of Statesboro; Georgia; Levi Henze of Richfield, Minnesota; SPC Lance Henze of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Logan Henze of State Center, Iowa; four great-grandchildren-Jacob and Kaleb Bennett of Shakopee, Minnesota; and Maggie and Jessie Geerdes of Statesboro, Georgia; three brothers, Virgil Aukes and his wife Joann of Waukee, Iowa; Wayne Aukes and his wife Carol of Wellsburg, Iowa; Dale Aukes of Bangor, Iowa; one sister, Lavonne Walbaum and her husband Kempton of Marshalltown, Iowa;
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Douglas "Fritz" Geerdes; two granddaughters, Amanda Dawn Murra and Aubrey Marie Geerdes; two step-fathers; and one sister, Evelyn DeNeui
Virginia Mae (Aukes) Geerdes was born September 12, 1929, to John and Helen (Evert) Aukes on the Aukes farm home north of Wellsburg, the oldest of six children. Virginia was raised on the farm north of Wellsburg. She attended German No. 7, rural country school through the eighth grade. Virginia then attended and graduated from Wellsburg High School in 1947. She then enrolled in Iowa State Teachers College-now called the University of Northern Iowa-in Cedar Falls, where she received her teaching certificate. Virginia taught country school for several years in Pleasant Valley Township, Grundy County, Iowa. She made her profession of faith on February 17, 1942 at the Pleasant Valley Evangelical Church, now called Pleasant Valley United Methodist, rural Wellsburg. On October 28, 1948, Virginia was united in marriage to Douglas "Fritz" Geerdes at Pleasant Valley Evangelical Church, rural Wellsburg. Her church membership was transferred in January 1961, to the Wellsburg Reformed Church.
Virginia was employed at Fisher Controls in Marshalltown for five years, and was a Newspaper Correspondent for many years, including the Eldora Herald-Index, Marshalltown Times Republican, Ackley World Journal, and KFJB radio. Virginia had been a member of Pleasant Valley Evangelical Church and was a current and active member of Wellsburg Reformed Church. She had served as the Ladies Aid President at both churches, as well as teaching catechism. Her family also sang together many times at church services throughout the years. Virginia helped to start the Library in Wellsburg many years ago. She enjoyed playing the piano and had given lessons in the past. Virginia also enjoyed gardening, homemaking and her family.
Her husband Douglas "Fritz" Geerdes died on January 1, 2008.
She is survived by two daughters, Rebecca Murra and her husband Duane of Lakeville, Minnesota; Jone Henze and her husband Michael of State Center, Iowa; and one son, Rev. Dr. John Geerdes and his wife Johanna of Statesboro, Georgia; nine grandchildren-Andrew Murra and his wife Kristin of Richfield, Minnesota; Belynda Bennett and her husband Turner of Shakopee, Minnesota; John Geerdes and his wife Jean, Anna Kersey and her husband Matthew, Paula Geerdes, and Vanessa Geerdes, all of Statesboro; Georgia; Levi Henze of Richfield, Minnesota; SPC Lance Henze of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Logan Henze of State Center, Iowa; four great-grandchildren-Jacob and Kaleb Bennett of Shakopee, Minnesota; and Maggie and Jessie Geerdes of Statesboro, Georgia; three brothers, Virgil Aukes and his wife Joann of Waukee, Iowa; Wayne Aukes and his wife Carol of Wellsburg, Iowa; Dale Aukes of Bangor, Iowa; one sister, Lavonne Walbaum and her husband Kempton of Marshalltown, Iowa;
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Douglas "Fritz" Geerdes; two granddaughters, Amanda Dawn Murra and Aubrey Marie Geerdes; two step-fathers; and one sister, Evelyn DeNeui
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