Gertrude F. Seifert Rudak

"My dear Gert,how empty our church pew will be without you...."

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Gertrude Rudak January 5, 1921 - February 27, 2013 Norwich - My dear mother, Gertrude Rudak, passed on into the loving embrace of our God on the evening of February 27, 2013. Born January 5, 1921 to Kurt and Frieda Seifert, her parents having immigrated from Germany, established a large, vivacious family in the town of Baltic. Gertrude was blessed with five wonderful brothers Kurt, Bill, Charles, Albert and Walter and two loving sisters Erna and Millie. Surrounded by her loving family, there began a beautiful life that has been cherished by countless admiring family and friends for 92 years. Mother's love of nature and beauty blossomed as a child and continued to grow throughout her life. The simple pleasures took root as a youngster, be they picking wild blueberries with her sisters, learning to plant seeds or collect the morning chicken eggs with her mother, or perhaps even an adventurous summer outing to Ocean Beach as a teenager. Mother attended local schools as a child, and then "graduated" to employment at what was occasionally referred to as "Ponemah College". My mother married the love of her life, my father, Charles Rudak. From the first day their eyes met, he always claimed that she was the woman of his dreams and the woman he would eventually marry. After his safe return from service in WWII, they joined their lives together on September 11, 1948 and two lives became one. Their mutual love of nature and hard work transformed their woodland purchase off of Plain Hill Road into a veritable nature conservatory.. their own piece of Heaven... the place they called home for the remainder of their lives. Two children were born into this loving marriage, my sister Cathy who passed away at the far too young age of 34 and myself John, the author of these loving sentiments. A life cannot be summated in a matter of paragraphs. No mere words can fully illustrate the loving, humble, though self-described "powerful" woman who was Gertrude, be they her dedicated, life-long devotion to the Versailles United Methodist Church, her unfailing commitment to family and friends, always putting the needs of others before herself, her simple joys of a lush, fruitful garden and freely passing the bounty onto others, or the well fed menagerie of wild birds she so enjoyed all of her days. Amidst the trials and tribulations of life, the joys and hardships, my mother loved life with all of her heart and soul. Her Faith in God always provided her the courage, fortitude and "Amazing Grace" to forge ahead. "How Great Thou Art". She leaves behind loving nieces; June, Heidi and Dear Heather and their respective spouses, in addition to a wonderful nephew Delor and myself her loving son. A Graveside Service will be performed at Maplewood Cemetery on Monday March 4 at 1 P.M. Donations in Gertrude's memory may be made to the Versailles United Methodist Church or the charity of your desire. I leave you with the words of John Keats: "Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!; No hungry generations tread thee down; The voice I hear this passing night was heard, In ancient days be emperor and clown."