Gertrude Kelley passed away the morning of February 8th in her home with her husband and grandson by her side. She was 85. Gertrude was born Gertrude Haas on September 26, 1933 in Offenheim, Germany to Friederike Haas (Wiegland) and Gustav Haas.
Gertrude married Rudolph William Kelley on September 21, 1956 in Alzey, Germany to whom she would stay married for over 62 years. Prior to her marriage to Rudolph, she worked in Shillerhain, Kircheimbolanden, Germany at a Nursing home for Veterans. Gertrude received her early education in the Offenheim school and was later educated in a Catholic school.
For the first 15 years of her marriage to Rudolph she was a Military wife and took care of her husband and children as a stay at home mom, handling all domestic responsibilities, particularly during the times when her husband was serving in Korea, Vietnam, or simply on maneuvers for days at a time. She would often visit her mom and family in Germany during the summer when living in the U.S.
Prior to Gertrude and Rudolph settling in Yakima in 1971, they lived in Fort Lewis WA, Bindlach, Germany, Heilbronn, Germany, Fort Campbell, KY, Fort Knox, KY, and Junction City, KS. She found the weather in Yakima to be the best of all those locations having experienced numerous tornadoes that were too close for comfort while living in Kentucky.
Gertrude always put her family first and made sure everyone was taken care of. She also handled the finances and was excellent at budgeting and saving. Gertrude adored pets, loved to cook and bake, and had a true green thumb when it came to raising flowers.
Gertrude is preceded in death by her grandson Brian William Kelley, Jr., sister Christine Blitch, and daughter Cynthia Christine Kelley. She is survived by her husband Rudolph William Kelley, brothers Karl Gerhard Haas and Rudolf Engelbert Haas, son Brian William Kelley and wife Suzan, nieces Gisela Schlatter and Ursula Brandt, and grandchildren Mike Kelley, Samantha Burch and her husband Evan, Natalie Riley and her husband Justin, Vanessa Porter and her husband Patrick, Alexander Kelley, and Gavin Kelley.
Gertrude was adored by many and will be greatly missed.
There will be a Funeral Service at Rainier Memorial Center on Monday, February 18, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. A graveside service will be at Terrace Heights Memorial park on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 1:00 p.m.
