Trudy Block

Loving, gentle, and empathetic, Gertrude (Trudy) Block lived a life rich in faith, family, and friends. Trudy was an accepting and peaceful woman who always genuinely cared for others. She generously enveloped others in love and support, often sharing concern and encouraging words, especially during difficult times. Trudy embodied her beliefs and met each day with grace and gratitude. In doing so, she proved an inspiration to others. Trudy’s bright smile and warm, welcoming heart will long be remembered and so dearly missed by those she so dearly loved.

Born at home in Manhattan, Montana, Trudy was the third of the four Slagter children. The family moved closer to her paternal grandparents during the Depression, and she and her siblings, Beulah, Gerald, and John, grew up in small farming towns near Prinsburg, Minnesota. The family first lived in a grain storage building on the farm until they could purchase a house. When Trudy was in high school, her parents started working in a small café in their hometown, which was started by her grandmother many years before, the family lived in a home connected to the café. This café was very special to this small farming community, acting as a hub of most activity.

Due to the Great Depression, the family was very poor, Trudy learned to make clothes from flour sacks. Not only did she wear the clothes she made, they were also sold for money at the time. Trudy attended the one-room schoolhouse in Prinsburg, MN, with her five classmates.

Very smart, after Trudy graduated from Clara City High School in 1948, she took on some teaching jobs in one and two-room schoolhouses in Pella Iowa, and Wisconsin. In 1951, Trudy moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to attend Calvin College. In time, she found work at the Federal Housing Administration.

While enjoying time with friends at Holiday Lanes one evening, Trudy was introduced to John Block. The pair hit it off and were soon dating and falling in love. Nearly a year later, Trudy and John married on November 16, 1956, at Park Congregational Church’s Thompson Chapel. Although neither John nor Trudy attended the church, they loved it for the amenities.

After enjoying a honeymoon in the Smokey Mountains, the newlyweds returned to Grand Rapids and made their first home in an apartment at 510 Lyon Street, NE. Soon after, they discovered they were going to be parents. They welcomed the first of their four children, Eric, in 1958. Dawn joined the family in 1959, Phillip in 1962, and Karla completed the family in 1967.

While John worked in administrative roles at several companies, including DeKorne-Ethan Allen Furniture Stores, Trudy dedicated herself to homemaking while their children were young. The family attended Westview Christian Reformed Church. Trudy and John shared special times, staying in rental cottages on various Michigan lakes. They took an epic camping trip out to the Rockies. The trip was especially memorable as three of the children came down with chicken pox.

When Trudy returned to work, she worked as a newspaper layout editor and formatter, using an exacto knife to pieces pieces of the local newspaper together to prepare for printing. Later, she became the first formator to do this task with the computer. When she completed her work, she always said, “I put the newspaper to bed.”

In retirement, Trudy and John devoted more time to traveling, taking several amazing trips out west. Their adventures were highlighted by times exploring the Grand Canyon, the Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Park, Glacier National Park, and Arizona.

Well-known in her community, Trudy was a natural role model for all who were blessed to know her. Her actions reflected her positive values and showed others how to live wholehearted, faithful lives of service. In quiet times, she was an avid Scrabble player who loved poetry and reading.

Trudy and John moved into Edison Christian Health Center when John’s health declined and required more support. Trudy continued to live at Edison after John died in the fall of 2014 and very much enjoyed visits from her family and friends.

As we celebrate Trudy’s beautiful life, may we find much comfort in our many precious memories of the woman we were so lucky to know. May we also find comfort in the honor of carrying Trudy’s legacy of living faith, hope, and love forward. In each moment we confidently meet the day’s trials, give gratitude for our blessings, gift our time and talents in service of others, enjoy a game of Scrabble, and relish sharing time with loved ones, we keep Trudy’s memory alive and inspiring others as she so inspired each of us.

BLOCK - Trudy (Gertrude Slagter) Block, aged 94, went home to her Heavenly Father on November 10, 2024. She will be lovingly remembered by her four children: Eric (Julie), Dawn (Hal) Kooistra, Phillip (Magumi), and Karla Joy Block, as well as 12 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. She was blessed with 58 years of loving partnership with her deceased husband and best friend, John Block. Her parents, John and Barbara Zylstra Slagter and three siblings predeceased her.

Trudy was a lifelong member of Christ's church on earth and was endowed with the gift of encouragement to others. She had an appreciation for poetry and writing but found joy in the creativity and achievements of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

A celebration of Trudy's life will be held at Westview CRC Church, 2929 Leonard NW, Grand Rapids, MI 59504 at 11:00 am, November 15, 2024 with Rev. Hal Kooistra (son-in-law) officiating, and with Rev. Pete Byma supporting. Friends and family may greet the family 1 hour before the service beginning at 10:00 am.

For those who wish, memorial gifts may be made to World Renew at World Renew United States 8970 Byron Commerce Dr SW, Byron Center, MI 49315 or the Christian Rest Home, 1000 Edison NW, Grand Rapids MI 49504.

“I will be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” Psalms 17:15