Gertrude "Gertie" Cnossen

Our precious mother, Gertude (Gertie) Van Dyk Cnossen was born to Dries and Anna Van Dyk on October 26, 1925 in Rock Rapids, Iowa. She died under hospice care at her daughter Geri"s home and went to her eternal home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on March 5, 2019.

Gertie was proceeded in death by her husband of 63 years, Jon Cnossen, and her brothers, Heinie Van Dyk, Bart Van Dyk, and Andrew Van Dyk. She is survived by her brothers, Richard Van Dyk, Fred Van Dyk and John Van Dyk.

She was loved and will be missed by her three children: daughter, Annetta Cnossen (Wes Dils), son Jon Cnossen, Jr. (Christine), and daughter Geri De Jong. Gertie was blessed to have many other family members who loved her including eight grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, lots of extended family and many, many friends.

Gertie moved with her parents to California when she was 18 months old. She attended schools in the Artesia/Bellflower area until she was 16 years old, when she was needed by her parents to care for the family and to get a job to help support them. She often said that she was robbed of her teen years due to family financial hardship and the sacrifices World War II required.

Gertie was blessed with many talents. Her first piano lessons began when she was 12 years old. With one year of lessons and God given ability, she was able to play the piano for church services and as an accompanist for church choirs and singing groups. She eventually taught herself to play the organ and played for church services for many years at the Escondido Christian Reformed Church. Her talent brought the joy of music into her home and carried over to some of her children and grandchildren, several who play musical instruments and love to sing. Her ability to knit eventually had her making hats and booties for the premies at Kaweah Delta Hospital NICU. She estimated that she knitted about 1200 sets. She also crocheted amazingly beautiful doilies and gave many of them away as gifts. Her ability to win at the many card games she loved to play continued for her whole life.

She often said that marrying Jon Cnossen, a man who loved the Lord and would give her a life guided by that love, was her greatest earthly joy. Gertie had given her life to Christ at a revival at age 16 and then joined her family church at that time. Jon had returned to Artesia after his commitment during World War II to the Princess Irene Dutch Brigade in Europe. Mom was sure after the first kiss on their first date that she would marry him – and she did. They married on September 18, 1946 in the Artesia Reformed Church.

Jon and Gertie moved with their three children to Escondido, California in 1961. Life there included church and school activities, day trips to the beach, supporting their children in all their athletic and academic activities, and hosting many family members and friends in their home for meals and good conversation. In 1991, Jon and Gertie moved to Tulare, California and spent many wonderful years living on Wim and Ellie Griffioen’s farm. A bond of love and friendship was enjoyed with many Griffioen family members. They became members of the Visalia Christian Reformed Church and continued to make church attendance and fellowship with other Christians a priority. They moved into Sierra Village Retirement Center in Visalia, California in 1998 and enjoyed the new friends and the many activities available including the coffee times, game days, birthday parties, etc. Upon Jon’s death in 2010, Gertie continued to live in their duplex until she moved to the Assisted Living Facility in April, 2018. She was happy and felt very blessed to spend the last months of her life being cared for by such loving and kind caretakers.

Gertie and Jon’s love for the Lord shaped and influenced their marriage, how they raised their children, and how they interacted with every person they met. The gift of hospitality was very evident in their home as they hosted many guests for meals, coffee times, and overnight stays. Together they also enjoyed many trips to Europe, including their ancestral home of the Netherlands, and vacations to many USA destinations. Wherever they went they met with family and countless friends.

Mom was a wonderfully organized and talented homemaker. She was an excellent seamstress, sewing baby clothes, school clothes, church clothes and eventually even her daughters’ maternity clothes. She cooked healthy and hearty meals, often remarking that it was always better to pay the grocer than to have to pay the doctor. She kept a very clean home and taught us the value of cleanliness and order, reminding us that there’s a place for everything and everything should be in its place.

Our amazing mother lovingly worked hard and made many sacrifices to provide a happy and secure home for us. Her unconditional love was always there through all our good and bad times. Her deep faith in God was evident throughout her life and even to the end. This faith will always be her greatest gift to us. We thank the Lord for her life and for His promise of eternal life for our Mom and for all who accept Him as their Lord and Savior.