Gertrude Housenga, 98, of the Alverno Health Care Facility in Clinton, IA, formerly of Fulton, IL, died Monday, April 2, 2018, at the Alverno.
Gertrude was born October 16, 1919, in Fulton to Joe J. and Jane (Borgman) Shipma. She was educated in the Fulton grade schools and attended Fulton High School. On March 28, 1953, she married Edward Housenga in Fulton. He died May 27, 1970. Gertrude was employed by Fulton Corporation for 20 years, retiring in 1984. She was a baptized member of First Reformed Church in Fulton. She enjoyed music and reading.
Survivors include four daughters, Lorna (Harlan) Houzenga and Barbara (Dave) Grater, both of Morrison, IL, Vicki (Joe) Moellenbeck of Port Byron, IL, and Joan Housenga of Clinton; 11 grandchildren, Tammy (Kenneth) Faulkner, Ronald (Wendy) Houzenga, Shane (Jennifer) Housenga, Renee Johnson, Darin (Dawn) Housenga, Justin (Christi) Grater, Adam Grater, Nicole (Seth) Smith, Jenna (Kurt) Janssens, Jeremy (Dawn) Roberts, Jason Roberts; 24 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Gladys Van Dyke of Fulton.
She was preceded in death by her husband; one son, Jacque Housenga; three grandchildren, Kimberly and Joseph Housenga and James Manske; one great-grandchild, Kimberly Mangelsen; four sisters, Helen Hine, Shirley Wiersema, Beverly Houzenga, and Evelyn Gendvilas; one brother, John Shipma.
The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 7, 2018, at the Fulton, IL, Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home, with Pastor Wayne Wiersema of Gateway Faith Fellowship officiating.
Visitation will be held the same day at the funeral home, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service.
Interment will be in Fulton Township Cemetery, Fulton, IL.
Memorials have been established to the Alverno and Gateway Faith Fellowship.