Gerrit J. Lode

IN MEMORY OF
GERRIT J. LODE

BORN
December 13, 1928
Archer, Iowa

PASSED AWAY
May 2, 2011
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

FUNERAL SERVICE
10:30 A.M. Saturday
May 7, 2011
First Reformed Church; Sheldon, Iowa
Rev. David Brower ~ Officiating

MUSIC
“The Untitled Hymn”
Soloist: Wil George
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS
“Amazing Grace”
“In The Garden”
Organist: Midge Andringa

CASKET BEARERS
Larry Christians Dale Zoet
Don Roetman Dean Zoet
Dan McCabe Larry Ebel

FINAL RESTING PLACE
Sheridan Township Cemetery ~ Boyden, Iowa

Military Graveside Services by the:
William Monster American Legion Post #272
of Boyden, Iowa

After the graveside service relatives and friends are invited
to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church

Arrangements under the care of the:
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home of Sheldon.

GERRIT J. LODE

Gerrit John Lode, the son of Cornelius and Dena (Buysman) Lode was born December 13, 1928 in Archer, Iowa. He received his education in a country school near Sheldon. Gerrit worked for the railroad for a short time before he married Christina Oldenkamp on February 20, 1951. Gerrit served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and received the Purple Heart. After serving his country, they lived in Sheldon, where he owned and operated a feed grinding business. He then moved to California where he worked as a carpenter and later for Artesia RV Repair. Gerrit was united in marriage to May E. (Reimers) Houtsma on September 15, 1965 in Las Vegas, Nevada and they made their home in Artesia, California. After retiring in 1993, they moved to Boyden, Iowa. Gerrit remained in Boyden until August 28, 2004, when he married Rose (Penning) Koerselman and they made their home in Sheldon. Gerrit passed away Monday, May 2, 2011 at the Sanford Health Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, reaching the age of 82 years, 4 months and 19 days.
He was a member of the William Monster American Legion Post #272. Gerrit enjoyed flying airplanes, riding motorcycles, hunting, fishing, fixing old tractors, traveling and camping. But most of all, he enjoyed his family and grandchildren.
Gerrit is survived by his wife, Rose of Sheldon; his 5 children and their spouses, Delores and Roger Helgerson of Sheldon; Janice and Kenneth Bolkema of Sheldon; Marlene and Bill Lawson of Sheldon; Jerry and Angela Lode of Boyden and Merlyn and Rachel Lode of Sheldon; 3 step sons and their spouses, Mike and Linda Koerselman of Fairfield, IA; Mark and Donna Koerselman of Sheldon; Tim and Rhonda Koerselman of Pleasantville, IA; and a step daughter, Cyrilla May “Cooky” Williams of Longmont, CO; 29 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Marie Van Veldhuizen and Cornelia Oldenkamp and a sister-in-law, Jennie Lode, all of Sheldon; many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wives, Christina and May; a son Dennis Lode and a step son, Jeff Koerselman; his parents, and 6 brothers, Werner, John, Dick, Carl, Henry and Herman Lode.