TRIPOLI, Iowa — Gertrude LouAnne Dettmering, 88, of Tripoli, died Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Hillcrest Home in Sumner. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, at Grace Lutheran Church in Tripoli, with Rev. Dennis Niezwaag officiating. Interment will follow at St. John Lutheran Church-Crane Creek Cemetery, rural Tripoli.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorials may be made in Gertrude’s name to the Tripoli Ambulance Services or to the family for later designation.

Rettig Funeral Home in Tripoli is assisting Gertrude’s family. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com

Gertrude LouAnne, daughter of Otto and Martha (Hesse) Richmann was born Oct. 29, 1930, in Klinger, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Readlyn. Gertrude attended parochial school through eighth grade and later graduated from Readlyn High School.

On Aug. 29, 1949, she was united in marriage with Donald Dettmering at Immanuel Lutheran Church. To this union, three children were born, Denise, Donell and Daniel.

In addition to assisting her husband on the family’s farm, rural Tripoli, Gertrude worked as a C.N.A. at Community Memorial Hospital in Sumner and later at the Tripoli Nursing & Rehab.

She was a long-time member of St. John Lutheran Church-Crane Creek, rural Tripoli, where she was a Sunday School Teacher and served as a chaperone for the Luther League.

Gertrude and Donald served together on the Tripoli Ambulance Service for 20 years.

When the couple retired from farming in 1987, they moved in to Tripoli. The family formed a band the “Golden Stars,” for which Gertrude served as the organizer, whether it be scheduling events, making posters, or assisting in any way she could.

She enjoyed gardening, canning, raising chickens, and was an avid collector of earrings.

Gertrude is survived by her three children, Denise (David) Schavey of Blue Earth, Minn., Donell (Marvin) Dittmer of Waverly, Daniel (Barb) Dettmering of Zearing; six grandchildren, Matthew (Kristin Wendland) Dittmer, Michell (Dan) Buls, Dane (Katie) Dettmering, Drew (Aryn) Dettmering, Brian (Vanessa Juarez) Schavey, and Kevin Schavey; three great-grandchildren, Sophie and Liam Buls, and Sloane Dettmering; brother, Donald (JoAnn) Richmann of Waverly; two sisters-in-law, LaVelle Richmann of Iowa Falls and Kathie Dettmering of Waverly.

In addition to her parents and parents-in-law, she was preceded in death by her husband, Donald, who died in 2009; two brothers, Melvin and Eldon “Joe” Richmann; one sister, Dorothy Shaner; and one brother-in-law, Merlin Dettmering.

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