December 26, 1927 – February 20, 2023

Gertrude Willemssen, 95, of Leota, died Monday, February 20, 2023, at the Sanford Luverne Medical Center.

Funeral services for Gertrude were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Dingmann Funeral Home, in Adrian, officiated by Pastor Galen Smith. Burial was in the Lyon County First Presbyterian Cemetery in George, Iowa. 

Gertrude “Gert” Dena Willemssen was born December 26, 1927, in Sibley, Iowa, to Hugo and Dena (Schrik) Haken. She was baptized at the First Reformed Church in Little Rock, Iowa. Gert attended grade school and later graduated from the Samuel School of Cosmetology in Sioux City, Iowa. She received her GED in 1984.

Gert married Charles Willemssen on June 12, 1953, at the First Reformed Church in Sibley, IA. The couple settled in the George, Iowa, area and continued to farm in the area. In the spring of 1964, they moved to the farm south of Leota. After retiring from farming, Gert worked at Sailor Plastic in Adrian, she sewed and did mending, and worked as a cook at the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Home, in Luverne, for thirteen years. She also owned and operated The Artistic Beauty Shop in George.

She was a former member of the Lyon County First Presbyterian Church, in George where she was very active. Gert was a current member of the Bethel Reformed Church in Leota. She enjoyed reading and needlework.

Gert is survived by her three daughters, Jean (Scott) Leininger, Milbank, S.D.; Laura (Tom) Hagedorn, Flandreau, S.D.; and Margo Willemssen, Lismore; three grandchildren, Justin Hagedorn, Bailey (Brett) Erickson and Tomi Jo Hagedorn; a sister, Jennie Schram, Sibley; a brother-in-law, Roger Sterler, Sheldon, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Wanda Willemssen, Hull, Iowa; and many nieces  and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Charles in 2006; two brothers, Menno and Albert Haken; and a sister, Dena Sterler.