65340_Velma_Gerzema
Velma Gerzema of Titonka, formerly of Buffalo Center, died Sunday April 20 at the Hancock Memorial Hospital in Britt.
A Memorial Service celebrating her life will be 5:00PM Saturday at First Reformed Church, Buffalo Center, with Pastor Bill Peake officiating. Inurnment will be in Graceland Cemetery.
Visitation will be 1 hour before the service at the church.
Velma Louise (Madsen) Gerzema was born November 29, 1923 to Ida and Adolf Madsen, Bradgate, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed in the Trinity Lutheran Church, Rutland, Iowa. Velma attended and graduated from Bradgate high school.
On January 1, 1945, Velma was united in marriage to Alvin at the First Reformed Church parsonage. Together they farmed the Gerzema home farm and raised three children: Gary, Dean and Lorraine. They farmed south of Buffalo Center for forty years.
After her marriage she became an active member of the First Reformed Church and served several times in offices of the RCW. She taught Sunday School and was elected to serve as Elder just prior to her first stroke. She loved her Lord, His Church, and the Christian fellowship of its members. She served in offices of the local PTA, Winnebago Women’s Association, Winnebago County Extension and 4-H, and Farm Bureau Womens Organization. She was very active working at the Winnebago County Fair in the 4-H building. She was honored as an honorary 4-H and FFA member.
Velma enjoyed preparing food for anyone that visited. She was an avid writer, historian, scrap booker of community as well as her children’s events. She really enjoyed working with Alvin in refinishing projects and woodworking. She could be found outside quite often on her H Farmall working around the yard or on her Dixon mower with grandchildren aboard. She was always available to babysit, as the grandchildren were the love of her life.
Velma went to be with the Lord and Alvin on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014 at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital. She was 90 years old. Left to cherish her memory are her children Gary and Lesia of Monticello, MN; Dean and Mary of Buffalo Center; Lorraine (Gert) and Jim Miller of Elmore, MN; twelve grandchildren Matthew Gerzema, Amber (Travis) Bay; Evan Gerzema; Katrina Gerzema; Ethan Gerzema, Jennifer Gerzema: Dawn Kimpel; Kristin (Travis) Soland; Jonathan Gerzema, Brent (Abbey) Gerzema; Nathan (Teri) Miller; Lucas (Shawn) Miller, Bo (Stephanie) Miller; and by great-grandchildren; Oliver, Charolette, and Agatha Bay, Landon and Peyton Soland, Tobias, Elias, Gabriel, and Aiden Gerzema; Raina, Tommy, Sullivan, and Nora Miller.
She was preceded in death by her devoted husband Alvin in 2003, her parents, brother Harley, and 2 sisters Alice and Eunice in infancy and by her second family who raised her: Aunt Laura and Uncle Willis Pedersen.