Gertrude Darling

Gertrude Darling was a truly compassionate Christian woman who sought no fanfare, no praise or admiration for the ways in which she served others. Everyone who knew Gertrude was blessed by her unconditional love and her generosity of spirit. Through her love and hard work, she provided a strong and benevolent foundation for her family.

The year 1913 saw Woodrow Wilson begin his term as the 28th President of the United States. It was a time of great uncertainty as Europe was on the brink of witnessing the beginning of World War I. While closer to home, Henry Ford installed the first assembly line in his manufacturing plant, making it drastically easier to build cars at lower prices. It was into this world of change that Henry and Anna (Ekster) Ringelberg of Grand Haven, Michigan, welcomed the birth of the daughter, Gertrude, on September 17, 1913.

Gertrude had a fairly large family; she was the oldest of five children. Her father was a respected businessman in their community and owned a grocery and meat store as well as a real estate business. Gertrude was raised in a loving Christian home and the family was devoted members of the First Christian Reformed Church. She received her education at Grand Haven Christian School and Grand Haven High School, though she always said she would have preferred going to the all girls' school. Gertrude enjoyed music and played violin in the school orchestra.

After graduating from Grand Haven High in 1931, Gertrude went on to attend Butterworth School of Nursing in Grand Rapids, where she completed her training and earned her RN degree. She then did some private nursing before going to Rest Haven Home in Spring Lake. This rest home was associated with the Gospel Hall also in Grand Haven, which just so happened to be the church of her future husband, Joseph Darling. The two actually met while attending Bible Study at the Gospel Hall and a beautiful romance soon blossomed. Joseph and Gertrude were happily married, at her family home, in 1940, just prior to the start of World War II.

It wasn't long before Joseph was called to duty and headed off to serve during the war. While he was stationed in Texas for basic training, Gertrude went to live nearby and worked in the area hospital. Once Joseph was shipped overseas, she returned home to live with her family. In keeping with his desires, Joseph never carried a weapon and was able to serve in a non-combat position, working in a hospital and supporting the troops. Meanwhile, Gertrude worked at Hatton Memorial Hospital and also for North Ottawa Community Hospital. She was credited as being one of the first RNs to work there. She also continued her work as a nurse at the Rest Haven Home.

Joseph attended the Moody Bible Institute. After his honorable discharge from the military, he felt the call to minister in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada. So in 1946, the couple packed up their belongings and moved north. They quickly learned the French language and faithfully served in the congregation. Gertrude was a great support to her husband in his ministry and she warmly opened her heart and home to everyone Joseph brought home for a meal. Besides being a devoted minister's wife, the couple was blessed with the opportunity to adopt three infant children. It was said the adoption rate at that time was only a $1.00.

As with everything else in her life, Gertrude was a loving and devoted mother to her children, Joanne, Joseph and Elisabeth. When the children were still young, Gertrude worked as a surgical nurse at the hospital, but nothing was more important to her than providing a loving Christian home for her family, which they all remember fondly. As a great cook, Gertrude not only made meals for her family, but also helped cook for needy families in their church. Her children especially remember her wonderful rolls and the aroma that filled the house when she made them. Gertrude was also a skilled seamstress and made many of her children's clothes when they were growing up. Many fond memories of her and the children were made while gathered around the piano where Gertrude played and they all sang along. Also, she loved to knitt and made many mittens and scarfs that she gave away. She also liked to read and had a collection of victorian novels, some of which are over one hundred years old. Family was always the cornerstone of Gertrude's life and every summer she and the children would return to Grand Haven to be with her family. The children spent the summer months on the shores of Lake Michigan and treasuring the special moments spent in fellowship with family.

Joseph retired from the ministry after 40 years of service in Canada. They then decided to move back to Michigan, but took a detour on the way and visited the Canadian Rockies and British Columbia. She and Joseph settled in the Grand Haven area for a while working at the jail sharing the good news of salvation with the inmates, before moving to an apartment at Rest Haven Home in Grand Rapids. Amazingly, the Pell's who had the home in Grand Haven, where she worked as a young lady, operate this home in GR.

It didn't take long for Gertrude to find her place working and using her nursing skills in whatever way possible to benefit the home. When Joseph became ill and needed to be in the nursing section, Gertrude was vigilantly by his side, attending to his every need. After 62 wonderful years of marriage, Joseph passed away in 2002. Gertrude remained living at the home and loved taking the bus to the meetings at Northwest Gospel Hall. She eventually moved into the nursing section herself where she passed into the presence of the Lord on Sunday, December 4, 2005, at the age of 92.

Gertrude will be deeply missed, but she will always be remembered as a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, who was a constant support to her family.

Gertrude was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Darling, her brothers and sister-in-law, Henry (Hank) Ringelberg, John and Tess Ringelberg, and her brother-in-law, Gerald Darling. Surviving are her children: Joanne and Clare South, Joseph L. and Pamela Darling, Elisabeth and James Helmers; her grandchildren: Merila, Natalie, Brian, Barb, Maggie, Kim and Jamie; her great grandchildren: Austin, Tyler, Justin, Caleb, Logan Makayla and Chloe; her sisters, Harriett Ringelberg and Lois Biros; her sister-in-law, Betty Ringelberg; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Larry and Maria Darling, Gene and Ruth Darling; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral and committal services will be held on Friday, December 9, at 2 p.m. at Rest Haven Home, 1424 Union N.E., with interment to follow in Lake Forest Cemetery, Grand Haven. Relatives and friends are invited to meet with the family on Friday from 1 p.m. until the time of the funeral service. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory of Gertrude, sign the online register book or, for those who wish, make a memorial contribution to either Samaritan's Purse or Rest Haven Home.