Gertrude J. Vander Hamm

Gertrude J. Vander Hamm, 82, of Sioux Center IA, formerly of Ireton, died peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday January 22, 2022 at Sioux Center Health. Visitation and memorial services will be held Saturday, January 29, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ireton, IA with Rev. Michael Boothby officiating. Visitation with the family beginning at 9:30 am and memorial service following at 11 am with burial to follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. The service will be recorded and available on St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Facebook and YouTube pages.

Gert was born on January 22, 1940, near Hull, IA to Gerrit Ver Meer and Jeanette (Mulder) Ver Meer. She was raised on a farm west of Perkins, IA where she quickly understood the value of hard work and thrifty enterprise. She attended grade school in Perkins and graduated in 1958 from Hull High School. Gert was united in marriage to John Hamstra and together they had four children.
In 1972 Gert married Eugene Vander Hamm and the family lived on a farm near Ireton, IA. Gert worked at K-Products in Orange City, IA for 25 years. For several years she and her daughter Lori worked weekends at Southern Country in Craig, IA. After Eugene’s passing, Gert moved to Sioux Center and most recently she resided at Royale Meadows.
Gert enjoyed visiting with people and making new friends. Her gift of gab is legendary in many circles. She also enjoyed cooking and baking to share with family and friends. A longtime Vikings, Twins, and Iowa Hawkeye fan she celebrated their victories and anguished in their defeats. Other past times included crocheting and word search puzzles.
Loved ones left to cherish her memory and grace are her children, Lyle (Mary) Hamstra of Sioux City, IA and Lana (Jim) Miller of Omaha, NE; six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; stepson, Greg (Kathy)Vander Hamm of Loveland, CO and stepdaughter, Diane Clarey of Sioux Falls, SD. She is also survived by a brother, James (Chris) Ver Meer of Boyden, IA; sister-in-law, Dorothy Ver Meer of Rock Valley, IA: brother-in-law, Paul Hoekema of Grand Rapids, MI; and several nieces and nephews.
Gert was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; daughters, Lisa Vander Esch and Lori Hamstra; brothers, Harold and Ken; sisters, Ruth and Marilyn; and sister-in-law, Nilda.
Coincidently Gert’s day of birth, day of passing, and her spiritual journey to heaven all occurred on January 22. Please direct memorials to St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ireton, IA.