July 3, 1919 – August 1, 2021

Funeral services for Gertrude Krosschell, 102, of Edgerton, Minn., were held August 4 at the Chandler Christian Reformed Church with Rev. LeRoy Chris-toffels officiating. Interment was in the Chandler Memorial Cemetery.

Gertrude (Spronk) Krosschell was born on July 3, 1919, to John and Gertie (Van Pykern) Spronk on a farm near Steen, Minn. Gertrude started country school at the early age of 5 because her parents didn’t want her brother, Hank, to attend alone. Therefore, she graduated from the 8th grade at age 12. Having four brothers and being the only girl at this point, Gert’s mother required her to stay at home and help out with household chores.

While attending Young People’s Society, a handsome young man named Peter caught her attention when he asked to take her home one evening. After enduring many pranks from some loving Spronk brothers, Peter J. Krosschell married Gertrude on April 21, 1942, at her parent’s farm near Edgerton, Minn. Within their first year of marriage, Peter was drafted into the U.S. Army during WWII and sent overseas for 13 months. Gert anxiously awaited his return on December 25, 1945. After an honorable discharge, they made their home in Chandler, Minn., which would remain Gert’s home for the next 63 years. She moved into Edgebrook in 2009, where she would reside until her passing on August 1, 2021, at the age of 102 years and 29 days.

Gert was an active member of the Christian Reformed Church of Chandler. Gert’s strong commitment to her Lord and her dedication to Christian education was clearly seen throughout her life. She was known throughout the local communities for her excellent sewing skills. She would sew from morning until night and each piece was a special joy to her. She also loved to crochet, using her talents to make many baptism dresses for her great-grandchildren, numerous wall hangings, tablecloths, and the Beatitudes wall hanging that is displayed in her church. Her home was a special place for her, whether it was sitting at her sewing machine, babysitting grandchildren, baking, or having fun with her family…she cherished every single moment.

Gert had an uncanny ability to remember names and birthdays of almost every one of her relatives. If she had met you once, she remembered you. Gert was a blessing to her children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren, leaving a legacy of faith, contentment, and unconditional love.

She is lovingly remembered by her three children, Lavonne and Virgil DeJongh, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Ron and Wendy Krosschell, Chandler; Roger and Tami Krosschell, Chandler; 9 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and one brother, Art (Mayme) Spronk.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter (1995); one grandson, Timothy DeJongh; one great- granddaughter, Sailor Prins; her parents; 3 brothers, Henry, Bernard, and Gerrit; and one sister, Jeanette Christoffels.