Mabel M. Geerts

September 16, 1919 ~ November 1, 2013
Mabel M. Geerts, age 94, of Alta Vista, IA passed away on Friday, November 1, 2013 at Colonial Manor in Elma, IA.
Mabel Matilda was born on a farm near Regent, ND to Theodore and Margaret (Brehm) Geerts. Mabel had five brothers and two sisters. She always said, “I’m the middle man” as she had two brothers and one sister older and three brothers and one sister younger than her.
Mabel was raised on a farm in North Dakota, then Minnesota before moving with her family to Iowa. Mabel attended country school south of Alta Vista where she completed the eighth grade. After finishing school in 1933, Mabel continued to help on the farm and worked for her brother for nine years, as well as helping out wherever she was needed. Mabel stated with a chuckle, “I always liked to keep busy. If I couldn’t find anything to do, I would take the scythe out and cut weeds.”
Mabel recalls when her folks decided to move to town. There was not a house to rent or buy. So Mabel’s dad had to get busy and build a home. They moved to town on December 20, 1954. Mabel then worked at Weber’s Variety Store until getting called to work at the Alta Vista Bank. She began working at the bank as a bookkeeper June 1, 1956 and later became a bank teller until she retired on June 1, 1983. After retiring from the bank, she worked for the Chickasaw Senior Center for 17 years. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and St. Bernard’s Rosary Society.
Mabel lived with and took care of her parents until they passed away. Mabel recalled taking vacations with her parents to North Dakota. She enjoyed needle working, quilting, mending, crocheting, and watching selective game shows in her leisure time. Her famous words of wisdom, “Don’t depend on others, do it yourself. Pick yourself up and go…Always keep busy.”
Mabel is survived by her brother, Daniel (Coletta) Geerts of New Hampton; his sisters, Ruth Kruth of Evansdale, IA, and Monica Marvin of Alta Vista; sister-in-law, Monica Geerts of New Hampton, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents; infant brother; her brothers, Paul, Louis, Andrew, and Elmer; sisters-in-law, Helen Geerts, Katherine Geerts, Joanna Geerts; and brother-in-law, Everest Kruth.
Mabel was very much a part of our family, the Zweibohmers / Galings and I wish to extend my deep sympathy to her sisters Monica & Ruth and her many nieces & nephews who are my cousins. May she now rest in peace.
Marlys (Zweibohmer) Recker & John Recker
Remembering Mabel and extending our sympathy to her extended families. Always enjoyed visiting with her.
Kay (Recker) and Dan Hartson
Please accept our sincere condolences. May the words quoted from this song bring you a measure of comfort as it did for us.
”If a man should die, can he live again?
Hear the promise God has made:
He will call; The dead will answer.
They shall live at his command.
For he will have a longing
For the work of his own hand.
So have faith, and do not wonder,
For our God can make us stand.
And we shall live forever,
As the work of his own hand ”(Job 14:13-15)
Jeff & Peggy