Hazel Ruth (Carder) Gertsma

Hazel Ruth Gertsma, 96, of Newton died on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at Nelson Manor of Newton.  A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, June 24, 2016, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton.  The family will greet friends from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church.  Memorials to Progress Industries may be left at the church the morning of the service or at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.

Hazel, the daughter of Clarence and Iva (Curtis) Carder, was born on April 6, 1920.  She and her family lived in many places throughout Hazel’s childhood, eventually making their home in Newton, Iowa where Hazel graduated from high school in 1937.

Hazel was united in marriage with Rene Gertsma on September 1, 1940 at the Catholic Church in Newton.  In the late 1950’s Hazel began working full-time as a bookkeeper at Stocktons and Easters. She retired in 1982.  Hazel was an active member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, singing in the choir, serving on the church board, and teaching Catechism.  She was also a founding member of the Harmonettes who performed around the area for 27 years. Hazel’s favorite pastimes include traveling and planting flowers.  She was also a volunteer at Progress Industries in Newton.

Those left to honor Hazel’s memory are her three children, Joan Gertsma of Newton, Maureen (Dan) Doty of Newton, and Jim (Teddi) Gertsma of Vermillion, South Dakota; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Rene Gertsma in 1998; three sons, Mark, Tim, and Steven; three sisters; and two brothers.

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