Gertrude Sawyers

GERTRUDE SAWYERS

Cedar Rapids

Gertrude Sawyers, 101, of Cedar Rapids, died Sunday, April 19, 2015, at Mercy Hallmar Care Center in Cedar Rapids. Service: 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. The family will greet friends one hour before the service at the funeral home. A private family burial will take place at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell, Iowa. Per Gertrude's wishes, cremation has taken place.

Gertrude was born Sept. 26, 1913, in Pella, Iowa, to Peter and Wilhelmina (Ross) VanNiewaal. She received her teaching degree from Central College in Pella. She married Thomas Franks Sawyers on June 24, 1939, in Pella. She remained in Pella until her husband was discharged from the Army following World War II. They then relocated to Grinnell where they lived for 26 years before moving to Cedar Rapids in 1973. She was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ and PEO Chapter HJ.

Gertrude is survived by her children, Mary (Thomas) Comerford of Miami, Fla., and Dr. John (Julie) Sawyers, formerly of Cedar Rapids; six grandchildren, Chris (Kelly) Comerford of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Nancy (Mike) Pado of Orlando, Fla., Sam (Yornet) Comerford of Miami, Fla., Matt (Whitney) Sawyers of Port Orchard, Wash., Jenny (Paras) Shah of Queens, N.Y., and Ross (Cynthia) Sawyers of Skokie, Ill.; and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband and five brothers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Gertrude's name may be made to First Congregational United Church of Christ, 361 17th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403; or to Mercy Medical Foundation for Hallmar Care Center, 701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

Please share a memory of Gertrude at www.murdoch

funeralhome.com under obituaries.