Gertrude Eline Heptner Schrank went to be with her Lord and Savior on September 4, 2020, 16 days prior to her 90th birthday. She was born September 20, 1930, in Hamilton County Texas to Joseph Heptner & Emma Zimmerman Heptner. She was the eighth of ten children in the household having 4 brothers and 5 sisters.
Gertie was baptized October 26th, 1930 and was confirmed November 26, 1944 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pottsville, Texas. 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, Texas on May 19, 1944. She graduated from Aleman High School in 1948 at the age of 17.
Gertie married Leonard Schrank on April 17, 1949 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Aleman in Hamilton County Texas 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 Reverend Raymond Reich officiating.
Gertie was a member of St John Lutheran Church in Hamilton, Texas. 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 7 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 eleven 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; sister-in-law, Joyce Heptner, sister-in-law, Linda Schrank and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gertie was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard (L.O.) Schrank, her parents Joe & Emma Heptner, her sisters Elsa Senger, Elfrieda Scott, Ida Sommerfeld, Meta Sommerfeld, and her brothers Erwin, Walter, Milton, and Wilbert Heptner.
The family has requested memorials be made to St John Lutheran Preschool or a charity of your choice.
. A celebration of her life will be held on Monday, September 7th at 2:00 pm at St John Lutheran Church Hamilton, Texas with Pastor Keith Reich officiating. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery Hamilton, Texas following the service. Visitation/meal will be from 12:30 to 1:30 at St John Family Life Center.
