Jeanette Marie Gerdes

Jeanette Marie Gerdes, 90, of Manson passed away on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at the Marian Home in Fort Dodge. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Faith Community Church, Palmer with burial following at St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Lizard Township. Visitation will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the service at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted with Larson-Weishaar Funeral Home.

Jeanette Marie Gerdes was born on April 29, 1933, at home near Palmer, Iowa, to parents Claus and Minnie VanHoveln. Jeanette attended country school and worked hard on the family farm throughout her life.  On March 26, 1950, she married Donald Gerdes and together they raised 3 children, Diane (Gerdes) Graaf, Brian Gerdes and Lori (Gerdes) Reiter on an acreage near Palmer.  She loved being a homemaker and enjoyed baking, gardening, and crafting.  Her love for sewing and quilting was shared with her family and the church "quilting ladies" as she spent many hours making quilts for all her children and grandchildren and others in the community.  These quilts of love will be cherished forever.   

Jeanette and Don also enjoyed traveling and camping with friends, attending local polka festivals, auctions, and visiting their Missouri lake home.  Many friends and great memories were made through their adventures.  After many years of farming, the couple retired and moved from the family farm east of Palmer to Manson in 1997.  They remained there until 2015 when Jeanette suffered a stroke and Don's health forced them to move to assisted living for many years.  After Don passed away in 2020, Jeanette moved to the Marian Home in Fort Dodge where she remained until her passing.  Jeanette passed away on March 24, 2024.

If you knew Jeanette Gerdes, you would say she was one of the kindest souls you would ever meet!  She was always quick to start up a conversation with a smile and a laugh and her love for life and her family was very evident.  Faith in God was very important to Jeanette and she loved many hymns and always stressed the importance of being at church on Sunday.  She taught Sunday School and served on several church committees. 

Jeanette is survived by her daughter Diane (Bob) Graaf of Cape Fair, MO and their children Brent Graaf of Clever, MO, (Ashten, Landen, Owen) Whitney Lockman of Fort Dodge, IA (Malihk, Chance and Monroe) Holly Graaf of Springfield, MO (Kenley), Tyler (Laura) Graaf of Kansas City, MO (Kayleigh), Emily (Colton)Woods of Rogersville, MO (Theo and Ivy), Jordan (Kelsey) Graaf of Clever, MO (Nora and Madden).

Her son Brian (Bonnie) Gerdes of Manson, IA and their daughters, Brady (Russ) Weller of Manson, IA (Judah) and Brittany Gerdes of Fort Dodge, IA (Emersyn, Beckham and Chandler).

Her daughter Lori (Stewart) Reiter of Warrensburg, MO and their daughters,

Ashley (Cameron) Stroh of Knob Noster, MO (Kaelyn and Shyler) and Megan Reiter of Warrensburg, MO (Liberty and Dixie); and her sisters Mildred Abens and Edna Stanfield.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her husband Donald; her parents Claus and Minnie
VanHoveln and her sister Johanna Schoon.

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