Gertrude Marie Riffel
Born: January 1st, 1970
Died: December 8th, 2010
Obituary
Gertrude Marie Breuer Riffel, 100, of Pleasant View Luther Home, Ottawa, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday, December 8, 2010. Gertrude was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, in 1910, the daughter of John and Clara Breuer, and the eldest sister of Leota (Riffel) and Rosella (Trueper), both deceased. In 1939, she married Ralph Riffel, and in 1947 the couple moved to Mediapolis, where they owned and operated Riffel Hardware and Appliance until 1957. In Mediapolis Gertrude served on the Library Board, and was active in the Garden Club. Ralph died in 1979, twelve years after they had moved to the Chicago area to be close to their daughter. While living in Evergreen Park, IL, Gertrude volunteered at the local Senior Center, performed in many theatrical productions, and enjoyed singing with the "Wooden Nickel Chorus". She took piano lessons when she was in her seventies, and was an avid reader all her life. She lived at The Manor in Sandwich, IL for seven years before going to Pleasant View Luther Home in 2002. Gertrude's family includes daughter, Jeanne (Gerald Vaver) of Sheridan, IL; son Robert/Bob (Vivian) Riffel of Franklin Furnace, OH; grandsons Anthony (Martha Heller) Vaver of Westborough, MA, and Jon (Kristin) Vaver of Lafayette, CO; granddaughters Maria Vaver (Steven Zike) of Salt Lake City, UT, Kristen (Rick Erwin) of Corpus Christi, TX, and Jamie (Jerry Gray) of Laingsburg, MI; and nine great-grand- children. Jeanne and Bob will gather with classmates, neighbors, family. and friends to celebrate Gertrude's life on Monday, December 13th, in Lunning Chapel from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A Memorial Mass for Gertrude will be held on Tuesday, December 14th, at 10:30 a.m. in SS Mary and Patrick Catholic Church, West Burlington. The Rev. David Steinle will be the celebrant. Private burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery on Monday, December 13th, following a service for the immediate family, with Rev. Randall Gearhart officiating.