Gertrude Jane Draayer

WEATHER ANNOUNCEMENT

Gertrude Draayer's visitation and funeral service have been postponed. Visitation will now be held Monday, February 25 from 6:00-7:30 PM at Porter Funeral Home. Funeral services will now be held Tuesday, February 26 at 10:30 AM at Calvin Christian Reformed Church.

Rock Valley, IA: Gertrude Draayer, 89, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center, Iowa. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 26, at 10:30 AM at Calvin Christian Reformed Church of Rock Valley with Rev. Gideon Wamala officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Monday, February 25, from 6:00-7:30 PM at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley. Condolences for the family may be left at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

   Gertrude Draayer was born August 21, 1929 to Jacob and Sophia (Van Ravenswaay) Dibbett. She grew up at Sioux Center and graduated 8th grade from country school. She then worked as a waitress, hired girl, and housekeeper for several area families.

   In November of 1950, she married John G. Draayer at Sioux Center. John was then stationed with the army in New Foundland during the Korean Conflict. Gertrude lived in a trailer on her parents farm while he was gone, where their first son was born. After John returned from the service, they farmed near Sioux Center. In 1962, they purchased a farm west of Rock Valley. They retired and moved to Rock Valley in 1990. Due to John’s declining health they moved into Four Seasons in Rock Valley on March 31, 2012. John passed away March 4, 2013. In January of 2015, Gert moved to Royale Meadow Care Center in Sioux Center.

   Over the years, Gert did a lot of volunteer work for her church, Hope Haven, and Justice for All. She always enjoyed playing cards and dominoes with family and friends. She also enjoyed traveling. Gert spent many enjoyable hours playing cards and putting together puzzles at Four Seasons. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Gert will be greatly missed.

   Gert is survived by three sons, Darwin (Joyce) Draayer of Remsen, Iowa, Conrad “Dean” Draayer of Louisville, Colorado, and Lyle (Emily) Draayer of Anchorage, Alaska; one granddaughter, Amber Draayer of Anchorage, Alaska; seven step grandchildren, Jacki Trujillo, Jamie (Cory) Spangler, Julie (Wes) Wortman, John (Terry), Joe, Jesse (Amanda) and Jeremy (Melissa) Galles; 22 step great-grandchildren; one brother, Jacob “Jack” Dibbett; two sisters, Joan Maassen and Arlene Hoogendoorn; and sisters and brothers-in-law,  Henrietta “Girlie” Dibbett, Gary (Sandy) Draayer, Ken (Belle) Draayer, Cynthia Kruid, Gladys De Weerd, and Dorothy Draayer.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Sophia; her parents-in-law, Gerrit and Jane Draayer; husband, John G.; son, Earl; step great-grandson, Dylan Wiebersh; and siblings and in-laws, Alice (Bill) Van Voorst, Richard (Junaida) Dibbett, John Dibbett, Priscilla Dibbett, Alvin Hoogendoorn, Ray Maassen, Nick Draayer, Wilmina (Hank) Kramer, Anne (John) De Weerd, Edwin (Lillian) Draayer, Wilbur (Jean) Draayer, Gerald De Weerd, Gerrit Kruid, and Catherine (John) Calkhoven.