Ruth Vander Wilt

Celeste Ruth Gertsma was born to Andrew and Dora (Kooistra) Gertsma on June 7, 1917, on a farm north of Lynnville, Iowa. Her family eventually purchased and settled on a farm south of Lynnville. She had only one sibling - a brother, Merlyn Bruce - born in 1922 when Ruth, as she was always called, was 5 years old.

Ruth graduated from Lynnville High School in 1936. She attended a 12-week teacher's course at the Iowa Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and then went on to teach school north of Lynnville in a one-room schoolhouse.

Ruth married Orval Vander Wilt on June 7, 1939. The couple began their married life in Lynnville, where Orval was operating the Standard Oil station. Three years later, they would move to Sully, Iowa, at which time Orval purchased a cream/milk route. Orval and Ruth also bought a home, which would be their place of residence for the next 39 years. Here, they raised their five children: Philip Bryan, Martha Diane, Charlotte Rose, Charles Dwight and Mary Ellen. When the children were no longer so young, Ruth worked part-time for the Lynnville-Sully School District as a school cook. Many family activities centered around the Sully Community Church, where they faithfully attended whenever a service or meeting was being held.

After Orval retired from the milk route, the couple sold their home and most of their household belongings and moved to an apartment to become managers at Fair Haven in Pella, Iowa, a residential facility for the elderly. They worked in this capacity for five years. They continued to reside in a rented home in Pella after leaving Fair Haven. In this home, Ruth entertained countless guests with delicious food and warm hospitality, dressed her grandchildren in Dutch costumes and remained kind and unruffled. Berean Baptist Church became a warm and welcoming church home for the Vander Wilts.

Orval passed away in 1990 after a lengthy illness and Ruth purchased a home and moved to Hillsboro two years later to live "back door" to her daughter, Mary Ellen Tippin. In Kansas, Ruth continued in her hospitable ways. She attended Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church and had many friends there.

After her daughter's family made a move to near Newton, she eventually joined them, settling into an apartment at Presbyterian Manor in their independent living division. At the Broadway Apartments, where Ruth lived for the next 11 years, she enjoyed the sociableness of shared lunches with the other residents each day, game nights, Bible studies, outings and almost any social activity offered by the Manor. She was known and loved by all for her pleasant smile, happy demeanor, Christian living and the ability to befriend anyone. Her days were filled with socializing, reading 5 to 10 books and numerous Christian periodicals each month, handwork, cooking for family events and game night, and corresponding with at least 30 different individuals and families.

Her 100th birthday was a grand celebration with most of her growing family attending a weekend event. June 7, 2018, saw her celebrating her 101st birthday a little more slowly, but still with a sharp mind and the ability to live on her own.

The end of her life came quickly and peacefully on July 27, 2018, as she passed from here into God's presence.

What marks Ruth's remarkable life and what she would want to be remembered for is her devout Christian faith in Jesus Christ as her savior and Lord and living according to his word, the Bible, each day in the big things as well as the small. This is what really made Ruth the loving, caring person who so many knew and loved. She will be remembered for the truly special woman that she was!

Preceding Ruth in death were her parents, Andrew and Dora Gertsma; her husband, Orval Vander Wilt; one daughter, Charlotte Christensen; and her brother, Merlyn Gertsma.

Ruth is survived by four of her children and their spouses: Philip and Carolyn Vander Wilt of Vacaville, California, Martha and Paul Ebbers of Cobbs Creek, Virginia, Charles and Jennifer Vander Wilt of Sandy, Utah, and Mary Ellen and RJ Tippin of Newton; son-in-law, Maury Christensen of Cobbs Creek, Virginia; and sister-in-law, Virginia Gertsma of Mesa, Arizona. Ruth is also survived by 13 grandchildren and their spouses, 32 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Burial and a memorial service will take place in Sully, Iowa.