Gertrude Wisse

Rock Valley, IA: Gertrude Wisse, 92, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, November 6, at 10:00 AM at the Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Rock Valley with Rev. J.J. Witvoet officiating. The service can be audio-streamed at http://edge.mixlr.com/channel/rwkcn. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley. A time of public viewing with no family present will be held Tuesday, November 5, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley.

   In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials which can be directed to the Netherlands Reformed Christian School in Rock Valley. 

   Gertrude Wisse, daughter of Aart and Tonia (Van Os) Vander Waal, was born February 23, 1932, at Ridderkerk, the Netherlands. She grew up in the Netherlands and attended school there. In 1952 Gertrude and her family immigrated to the United States, settling in New Jersey. On May 25, 1956, Gertrude was united in marriage with Leendert Wisse at Patterson, New Jersey. The couple moved to Luverne, Minnesota in 1960 and in 1967 they moved to their farm near Rock Valley, Iowa.

    Gertrude was a homemaker as well as an avid gardener, seamstress, and an excellent cook. She also spent nearly 20 years working as a certified nursing assistant at the Sioux Center Hospital. She was a longtime member of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation.

   Gertrude is survived by her 5 children, Samuel (Sue) Wisse of Santa Ana, California, Tonia Van Voorst of Rock Valley, Arthur Wisse of Brea, California, Janene (Jim) Van Voorst and Lynda (Harold) Rus, both of Sioux Center, Iowa; 17 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sister, Marie (Lourens) Willekes of Grand Rapids, Michigan; 2 brothers, Hendrik Vander Waal and Walter (Sheryl) Vander Waal, both of Orange City, Iowa; 3 sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Vander Waal of Doon, Iowa, Betty Ann Vander Waal of Rock Valley, and Alena Vander Sluijs-Wisse of the Netherlands; and 2 aunts, Jannie Vanden Hoek-Vander Waal and Cobie De Jong-Vander Waal.

   She was preceded in death by her husband, Leen; parents, Aart and Tonia; son, John Leonard Wisse; son-in-law, Terry Van Voorst; brothers, John (Pamela) Vander Waal, Gary Vander Waal, Jan (Corrie) Vander Waal, and Aart Vander Waal; brother-in-law, Jaap Vander Sluijs; and sister-in-law, Maria Wisse.