Gertrude Kiel

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Gertrude Eleanor Kiel (Rudisill) was born May 21, 1938 to Anne and Lester Rudisill in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. She was one of six siblings: Betty, Bob, Donald, Harry, Gertrude, and Carol. The family moved from Grand Rapids to the family farm north of Milaca. Gert and her siblings attended the Milaca schools. She married her high school sweetheart, Jim Kiel on May 24, 1957 and were married 55 years prior to Jim’s death on October 2, 2012. To this marriage came six children: Pam, Kathy, Julie, Greg, Sarah, and Mike. Julie and Greg died of crib death in their first months of life. Kathy was hit by a car on 169 getting the mail at the age of 12. The flowering crab tree you see in all its beauty in front of CCS was placed in her memory over 50 years ago.

Jim and Gert lived on “the old Kroominga place” north of Pease for a few years right after getting married, then to a home in Milaca, then to Pease for many years after finally making their home on “the old original Kiel homestead” of George and Alice Kiel (Jim’s grandparents). The original water pump remains there to this day.

Gert worked for Judge Paulson while living in Milaca for a short period, then for optometrist, Dr. Dye for several years. She found her niche in life selling insurance, first for MSI Insurance, then Princeton Milaca Insurance, where she and Jim worked together until their retirement. Mom and dad enjoyed many insurance sponsored trips to Europe and the Bahamas. They spoke often of their six-week trip to Alaska enjoying God’s splendid scenery of nature and animals.

Gert was a lifelong member of Pease CRC, where she served on various committees and sang in the choir. She loved volunteering at CCS with the 3 & 4 years olds. Gert loved gardening, drinking coffee with the Milaca ladies, and solving the world’s problems, attending her kids’ sporting events, and was a world class cook in the kitchen. Family loved coming to grandma and grandpa’s place for holidays, Sunday dinner, and then watching the Vikings whip up on the Green Bay Packers.

Gert died at the age of 86 on October 13, 2024. At the time of her death, she had been living in Johnston, Iowa in her “mother/mother-in-law apartment” with daughter, Sarah and son-in-law, Tony, of whom provided wonderful care to her the last eight years. 

Gert is survived by daughter, Pam (Bill) Ruis, Sarah (Tony) Bailey, and Mike Kiel; grandchildren, Grant (Melissa) Ruis, Greg (Lauren) Ruis, Jason (Ashley) Bultje, Erin Bultje, Cohl (Anne) Bultje, Kayla (Mike) Ische, and Devin (Eilysha) Kiel; great-grandchildren, Garrett Ruis, Jack Ruis, Genevieve, Edison, Adelaide, and Elowyn Bultje; Elizabeth and Henry Bultje, and Hudson Kiel; siblings, Harry and Carol.

She was preceded in death by husband, Jim; children, Kathy, Greg, and Julie; parents, Anne and Lester Rudisill; siblings, Bob, Don, and Betty.

The family wishes to thank Unity Point Hospice of Johnston, Iowa and the outstanding specialty care of nurse, Leah. She became one of the family. Mom loved her.

Funeral services will be held Monday, October 21, 2024 at 11 AM at the Christian Reformed Church in Pease.  Interment will follow at Pease Cemetery.  Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.