1954, in Wellsburg, IA. She gained her United States citizenship in 1962. In her early years, Gertrud worked as a nurse at the Deaconess Hospital and Westwood Nursing Home in Marshalltown. She then worked for podiatrist Dr. Ray Samuel for many years before her retirement. Gertrud enjoyed knitting, reading, classical music, keeping up on the news and world events, and spending time at the family cabin in Minnesota. Gertrud will be dearly missed by her three daughters: Dorie Tammen of Marshalltown, Ingrid (Jim) Haase of Morris, IL, and Linda (Bryan Fogg) Tammen, of Ames, IA; five grandchildren: Sam Brennecke of Marshalltown, Erin Faulkner and Kelly (Steve) Daniells of Chicago, IL, Josh (Amber) Courter of Melbourne, IA, and Kadie Osgood of Ames; two great-grandchildren, Gordy Daniells and Gavin Courter; a sister, Eva Krueger of Friedrichshafen, Germany; a brother-in-law, Wilfried Tammen of Germany; a niece Irene De Stefano of Germany, and a nephew, Roland Krueger of Germany. She is also survived by her dog, Heidi, and her cat, Mac. Gertrud was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, her parents, Otto and Ida, and a nephew, Reinhard Krueger.