Ruth Vander Wilt
Obituary
Celeste Ruth Gertsma was born to
Andrew and Dora (Kooistra) Gertsma on June 7, 1917, on a farm north
of Lynnville, Iowa. Her family eventually purchased and settled on a
farm south of Lynnville. She had only one sibling - a brother, Merlyn
Bruce - born in 1922 when Ruth, as she was always called, was 5 years
old.
Ruth graduated from Lynnville High
School in 1936. She attended a 12-week teacher's course at the Iowa
Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and then went on to teach
school north of Lynnville in a one-room schoolhouse.
Ruth married Orval Vander Wilt on June
7, 1939. The couple began their married life in Lynnville, where
Orval was operating the Standard Oil station. Three years later, they
would move to Sully, Iowa, at which time Orval purchased a cream/milk
route. Orval and Ruth also bought a home, which would be their place
of residence for the next 39 years. Here, they raised their five
children: Philip Bryan, Martha Diane, Charlotte Rose, Charles Dwight
and Mary Ellen. When the children were no longer so young, Ruth
worked part-time for the Lynnville-Sully School District as a school
cook. Many family activities centered around the Sully Community
Church, where they faithfully attended whenever a service or meeting
was being held.
After Orval retired from the milk
route, the couple sold their home and most of their household
belongings and moved to an apartment to become managers at Fair Haven
in Pella, Iowa, a residential facility for the elderly. They worked
in this capacity for five years. They continued to reside in a rented
home in Pella after leaving Fair Haven. In this home, Ruth
entertained countless guests with delicious food and warm
hospitality, dressed her grandchildren in Dutch costumes and remained
kind and unruffled. Berean Baptist Church became a warm and welcoming
church home for the Vander Wilts.
Orval passed away in 1990 after a
lengthy illness and Ruth purchased a home and moved to Hillsboro two
years later to live "back door" to her daughter, Mary Ellen
Tippin. In Kansas, Ruth continued in her hospitable ways. She
attended Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church and had many friends
there.
After her daughter's family made a move
to near Newton, she eventually joined them, settling into an
apartment at Presbyterian Manor in their independent living division.
At the Broadway Apartments, where Ruth lived for the next 11 years,
she enjoyed the sociableness of shared lunches with the other
residents each day, game nights, Bible studies, outings and almost
any social activity offered by the Manor. She was known and loved by
all for her pleasant smile, happy demeanor, Christian living and the
ability to befriend anyone. Her days were filled with socializing,
reading 5 to 10 books and numerous Christian periodicals each month,
handwork, cooking for family events and game night, and corresponding
with at least 30 different individuals and families.
Her 100th birthday was a grand
celebration with most of her growing family attending a weekend
event. June 7, 2018, saw her celebrating her 101st birthday a little
more slowly, but still with a sharp mind and the ability to live on
her own.
The end of her life came quickly and
peacefully on July 27, 2018, as she passed from here into God's
presence.
What marks Ruth's remarkable life and
what she would want to be remembered for is her devout Christian
faith in Jesus Christ as her savior and Lord and living according to
his word, the Bible, each day in the big things as well as the small.
This is what really made Ruth the loving, caring person who so many
knew and loved. She will be remembered for the truly special woman
that she was!
Preceding Ruth in death were her
parents, Andrew and Dora Gertsma; her husband, Orval Vander Wilt; one
daughter, Charlotte Christensen; and her brother, Merlyn Gertsma.
Ruth is survived by four of her
children and their spouses: Philip and Carolyn Vander Wilt of
Vacaville, California, Martha and Paul Ebbers of Cobbs Creek,
Virginia, Charles and Jennifer Vander Wilt of Sandy, Utah, and Mary
Ellen and RJ Tippin of Newton; son-in-law, Maury Christensen of Cobbs
Creek, Virginia; and sister-in-law, Virginia Gertsma of Mesa,
Arizona. Ruth is also survived by 13 grandchildren and their spouses,
32 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Burial and a memorial service will take
place in Sully, Iowa.
