Geraldine Cornelia Ver Ploeg was born in Ottumwa, Iowa on September 4, 1925. She was the youngest of eleven children born to Gerrit Jacob Van Wyk II and Cornelia (Roorda) Van Wyk. The Van Wyk family lived in Eddyville, Iowa. Geri's dedicated father walked from their home to the hospital in Ottumwa to visit mother and daughter due to muddy roads. The family moved to Otley, Iowa where Geri spent her childhood years. She walked a mile and a half to the Otley School, attending through eighth grade. In her early teens, Geri kept house for her brother Cornie while he farmed one of the Roorda farms. During a neighborhood threshing, Geri made a delicious chocolate cake. The cake mysteriously disappeared thanks to an ornery neighbor (Lonnie) who hid it. A few years later, Lonnie was home on leave when he ran into Geri coming out of the café and asked if she needed a ride home.

They were married on June 18th, 1946, and started their married life in Sully, Iowa. During the early years, she put her homemaking skills to work with three children: Alan, Mary, and Bryan being born during that time. Geri became the chief cook and bottle washer at the Sully Café while Lonnie took orders and chatted with the customers. The family moved to a brother-in-law's farm in the Mount Zion neighborhood where daughter number two, Elaine, was born. Then the Lord's plans brought them to the farm north of Pella in the Bunker Hill Neighborhood where the youngest daughter, Brenda, was born. They lived there for many happy years. Alongside being a busy mom of five, Geri was involved in the V.F.W. and C.O.C auxiliaries, and many church circles and Bible studies. She said goodbye to the gravel roads and moved into Pella where they had many happy family gatherings in their house on Maple Street. Then they downsized to the perfect spot in a duplex, thanks to a niece and nephew, where they carried on many Sunday dinner traditions.

Geri and Lonnie enjoyed traveling during their married life starting with their happy honeymoon. They traveled with their kids and church friends, traveled to Europe, and traveled to visit their kids as they scattered across the country.

Faith was a cornerstone of Geri's life, starting with her baptism in the Eddyville Reformed Church, and strengthening through many church communities in Otley, Sully, the Mount Zion Neighborhood, and then First Reformed Church in Pella where she remained a faithful member. Lonnie passed away in 2001 and a few years later Geri transferred to North Hilltop where she made many new friends.

Then she moved to The Cottages where she spent the remainder of her life. She passed away peacefully on July 10, 2021, at the age of 95 years.

A blessing to all, she stood as a strong pillar of faith for her family and anyone she met as friend, daughter, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. A prayer-warrior for us all.

Geraldine is survived by her children and their families.

Geraldine was preceded in death by: her husband, Alonzo Ver Ploeg, her son-in-law, Tracy Faro, grandsons: Alan James Ver Ploeg II and Marty Derringer; her parents: Gerrit Jacob Van Wyk II and Cornelia (Roorda) Van Wyk, her parents-in-law: James and Gertie (Vander Wilt) Ver Ploeg, her siblings: Fannetta and Gradus Ver Ploeg and Ernest De Cook, Cornelius and Leta Mae Van Wyk, Gerrit and Margaret Van Wyk, Alfred and Ada Van Wyk, Lewis and Evelyn (Boat) Van Wyk, Adrianna and John De Jong; John Den Hartog, Richard and Helen Van Wyk, Warren and Viola Van Wyk, Myron and Johnita Van Wyk, and Raymond and Gertrude Van Wyk, her siblings-in-law: Pauline and John Boot, Dick and Agnes Ver Ploeg, Harry and Neva Ver Ploeg, Cora and Albert Rietveld, Forrest and Alma Ver Ploeg, Elton and Margaret Ver Ploeg.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, July 16, 2021 at 1:30 pm --First Reformed Church, Pella, Iowa.
Interment will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery, Pella, Iowa.

Open visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Van Dyk- Duven Funeral Home
Visitation with the family will be Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at First Reformed Church

Memorial contributions are suggested for Words of Hope or the American Legion.

Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements

[Adapted from Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home web site]