Gertrude M. Boldt, 95, of Tripoli, died Thursday, August 24, 2017, at Tripoli Nursing & Rehab.
Funeral services will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Tripoli on Monday, August 28, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Scott Duffus officiating. Interment will follow at Grace Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, August 27th from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Rettig Funeral Home in Tripoli and for one hour preceding the services at the church on Monday. Memorials may be made in her name to the Grace Lutheran Church, Tripoli Nursing & Rehab, or Cedar Valley Hospice.
Gertrude Marie Ella daughter of August and Hilda (Bergman) Brase was born May 15, 1922, at the family home in rural Plainfield. She received her education in the country schools in Douglas Township #3, rural Plainfield. On October 10, 1943, she was united in marriage with Elston Boldt, at St. John Lutheran Church-Western Douglas. To this union six children were born. For one year they lived in three rooms of Elston’s parents home. Following that they rented farms in the Tripoli area until purchasing their farm southwest of Tripoli in 1960. In addition to helping on the farm, Gertrude worked at an egg packing plant, received a degree as a Nurse’s and Med aide from Hawkeye Community College, home health aide, and housekeeping for the Kehe family. In 1975, the couple retired from farming and moved in to town. She was a long time member of Grace Lutheran Church in Tripoli and Deborah Circle. Gertrude enjoyed dancing, gardening, sewing, helping ladies in church with quilting, and recently spent her time coloring and working on puzzles.
Gertrude is survived by her three sons, Darwin (Estella) Boldt of Frederika, Lonnie Boldt, and Neal (Carol) Boldt both of Tripoli; three daughters, Judy (Floyd) Fowlkes of Tripoli, Joyce (Darwin) Fecht, and Jennifer (Ralph) McCready both of Allison; twenty-nine grandchildren; fifty-three great-grandchildren; twelve great-great-grandchildren; and one sister-in-law, Margaret Kemming of Waverly.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Elston on April 23, 2015; three brothers, Walter, Helmuth, and Edgar; and one sister, Hilda.
