Gertrude Eline Heptner Schrank
Gertrude Eline Heptner Schrank went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sept. 4, 2020, 16 days prior to her 90th birthday.
She was born Sept. 20, 1930, in Hamilton County to Joseph Heptner and Emma Zimmerman Heptner. She was the eighth of 10 children in the household having four brothers and five sisters.
A celebration of her life was held Monday, Sept. 7, at St. John Lutheran Church with Pastor Keith Reich officiating. Interment was in Oakwood Cemetery.
Gertie was baptized Oct. 26, 1930, and confirmed Nov, 26, 1944, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pottsville. Her confirmation verse was John 11:25 – 26: Jesus said to her (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
Gertie completed Liberty Elementary School in Hamilton County on May 19, 1944, and graduated from Aleman High School in 1948 at the age of 17.
She married Leonard Schrank on April 17, 1949, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Aleman, in Hamilton County, with Pastor E.F. Moerbe officiating. Their wedding verse was First Corinthians 13:13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Fifty years later, in 1999, they renewed their wedding vows with Rev. Raymond Reich officiating.
Gertie was a member of St John Lutheran Church in Hamilton. Her love for her Lord, her family and her friends was evident in the way she lived. She was a wonderful Christian role model.
Gertie will be remembered for her selflessness and patience. She was kind, loving, caring and gentle. Because of these gifts, she was much loved by her family, and everyone felt welcome in her home.
Gertie was also talented and creative. She could sew anything from wedding dresses to Care Bears, and her quilts were stitched to perfection. Her homemade bread, chocolate chip cookies, chicken fried steak and cornbread dressing were some of the many family favorites.
Gertie will be deeply missed by her daughters and their spouses, Patricia Vise and husband Billy, Kathryn Coleman and husband Dickie and Sharon Roderick and husband Joe. She will always have a place in the hearts of her seven grandchildren, Joy Vise Williams and husband Carl, Christopher Vise and wife Cindy, Shane Coleman and wife Kristie, Justin Coleman and wife Christine, Jessica Roderick Deerinwater and husband Amos, Natalea Roderick Berend and husband Adam and Rylea Roderick; as well as her 11 great-grandchildren, Reagan and Kelsie Williams, Aaron, Andrew, Elizabeth and Emma Coleman, Seth and Luke Deerinwater, and Nora, Lane and Wesley Berend. Gertie is also survived by her sister, Anne Garrett; sisters-in-law Joyce Heptner and Linda Schrank; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gertie was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard (L.O.) Schrank; parents Joe and Emma Heptner; sisters Elsa Senger, Elfrieda Scott, Ida Sommerfeld and Meta Sommerfeld; and brothers Erwin, Walter, Milton and Wilbert Heptner.
Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Preschool or charity of choice.
