Gertrude was born on October 10, 1926, in Okaton, South Dakota, the daughter of Henry and Cornelia (Cleveringa) Roghair. She was raised in Okaton, where she attended the public school. She was on the honor roll and was the class valedictorian there.

On January 2, 1947, she married John E. Henry Vander Schaaf in Okaton. They farmed the Vander Schaaf family farm until 1981, when they retired into Orange City. In February of 2014, they moved to the Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull. John passed away on October 8, 2015, after more than 68 years of marriage.

Mrs. Vander Schaaf was a member of the First Reformed Church, where she participated in the Mary-Martha Circle and attended Sunday school for over sixty years.

“Gert” enjoyed reading, crocheting, counted cross stitching, vegetable and flower gardening, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Survivors include her three sons and their wives, Robert and Debora Vander Schaaf, of Orange City; David and Renae Vander Schaaf, of Alton; and Dennis and Patricia Vander Schaaf, of Sheldon; a daughter and her husband, Sharon and Kenneth Welker, of Glidden, Wisconsin; thirteen grandchildren and their spouses, Daniel (Kaitlyn) Vander Schaaf and Dustin Vander Schaaf; Nathan (Sherri) Vander Schaaf, Nancy (Luke) Wielenga, Curtis Vander Schaaf, Krystle (Corey) Kempers, Ben Vander Schaaf, and Rachel Vander Schaaf; Eric (Jennifer) Vander Schaaf, Emily Vander Schaaf and Evan (Rebecca) Vander Schaaf; and Leah (Jimmy) Johnson and Casey (Brent) Richardson; two step-grandchildren, Lauren (Michael) Aussieker and Kyle (Jenny) Welker; eighteen great-grandchildren; and a brother and his wife, Robert (Bessie) Roghair, of Okaton.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a great-grandson, Malachi Richardson; and her siblings and their spouses, Edward (Margaret) Roghair, Hilda Roghair, Jacob (Grace) Roghair, Harriet (Dick) Noteboom, Janetta (Bill) Kelly, Nicholas Albert (Eva) Roghair, Hilda (Don) Prielip, Alice (Cornelius) Oostwouder, William G. Roghair, Joanna (Bud) Grover, and Theodore Roghair.

Memorials may be directed to Talking Bibles International.

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