Monica Geerts

Monica C. Geerts, age 94 of New Hampton, Iowa died Sunday August 26, 2018, at the Linn Haven Rehab and Healthcare in New Hampton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 29, 2018, at Holy Family Parish, New Hampton with Rev. Brian Dellaert celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, New Hampton. Friends may greet the family 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 28, 2018, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton where there will be a 4:30 p.m. rosary. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Monica Catherine Geerts was born February 27, 1924, on the Tilkes family farm near North Washington, IA, She was the second of five children of Fred and Susan (Rohe) Tilkes. She received her education at St. Mary’s Grade School and High School in North Washington and was a graduate of the class of 1942. She remained helping on the family farm and one particular day a seed salesman, Theodore Geerts, brought his son, Andrew on the route. Monica was introduced to Andrew and the couple was married on April 23, 1945, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Washington. Monica and Andrew farmed side-by-side for more than forty years, initially on a farm west of Alta Vista, IA, and then on their farm east of Lourdes, IA. The couple built their farming operation one building at a time, raising cattle, hogs and producing eggs from around 300 laying hens. Monica loved picking rock all by herself, with her tractor named ‘Stinky’ and wagon. In 1989, the couple retired and moved into New Hampton. Monica baked the world’s best molasses cookies, loved her flowers, her cats and tending to her garden and apple trees. She enjoyed sewing and year-round fishing. Monica also helped Andrew with his woodworking projects, providing a charming touch in the painting. Her family will remember the couple for all the charitable work they did discreetly. Survivors include her sister, Lucille Zeien of New Hampton; sisters-in-law, Carmen Tilkes, Mary Tilkes, both of New Hampton; brother-in-law, Dan (Coletta) Geerts of New Hampton; sister-in-law, Monica Marvin of Alta Vista; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew in 2007; one baby in miscarriage; three brothers, Henry Tilkes, Edward Tilkes, Leo Tilkes; sister-in-law, Rosie Gehling; brother-in-law, Louis Zeien.