Trudy Goettsch died February 19, at the age of 99 years in St. Louis, Missouri. Gertrude (Trudy) Mae VanderPloeg was born in Pella, Iowa, to Nicholas and Mattie (Van Zee) VanderPloeg. She had three siblings: Dorothy (Dot), John (Bud), and Charles (Chuck.)
Trudy graduated from Pella Community High School in 1941. Following her graduation from Central College in 1945, she moved to Jefferson, Iowa, to teach high school commercial and physical education classes. There she met and married Wayne Faye Durlam. They were the parents of three daughters: Kay Lorayne, Jan Elayne, and Kim Ellen. Wayne died suddenly in 1962, and three years later Trudy and Harry Goettsch, father of one daughter, Judith Ann, were married. They lived in Jefferson until 2014 when Trudy and Harry moved to Friendship Village in St. Louis, Missouri, where they made many new friends and enjoyed being close to family.
Trudy could be found reading a book when she wasn’t playing bridge, baking or volunteering her time to the community. It brought her pleasure to cook meals for family and friends. It brought family and friends pleasure to feast on those meals. She enjoyed knitting, especially for the babies as her family grew. Family was always her priority.
Trudy was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church for over sixty years. She was a member of P.E.O., Beta Tau Delta Sorority, Friday Club, and Eastern Star; and she served on the Jefferson Library Board of Trustees.
Trudy Goettsch was preceded in death by husbands Wayne and Harry, her parents and her three siblings. She is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law: Kay (Randall) Cappos of St. Louis, Missouri, Jan (Mike) Berch of Toledo, Washington, Kim Durlam (Dave Schaller) of Columbia, Missouri, and Judith (Keith) Twedt of Nevada, Iowa, 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great-grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews, and many friends.
In lieu of flowers, since Trudy was an avid reader the family suggests donations to one’s local library or read a book and think of Trudy.
A celebration of life will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson, Iowa, at a later date.