Gerrit Raymond Branderhorst was the youngest of ten children that were born to Gerrit and Evalena (Van Ryswyk) Branderhorst. He was born on September 1, 1941, in Jasper County near, Prairie City, Iowa. Gerrit was baptized as an infant at the Prairie City Christian Reformed Church in Prairie City, Iowa where he later made profession of his faith. In 1959 he graduated from Pella Christiaan High School in Pella, Iowa. On February 8, 1963, he was united in marriage with Wilmena Schimmel, a twin daughter of Cornelius and Cora (Van Roekel) Schimmel, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa. To this union three daughters were born: Brenda Sue, Pamela Kay and Debra Lynn. Following their marriage Gerrit and Willa, as she is known, lived in the Newton, Oskaloosa and Pella, Iowa areas where he farmed for a few years. He then began his employment with Vermeer Manufacturing Company where he was employed for over 38 years. Gerrit and Willa moved into Pella in 1967. In 1971, they moved into their current home and were soon to celebrate their 49th wedding anniversary. However, early Saturday morning, February 4, 2012, Gerrit went home to be with his Heavenly Father soon after arrival at Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. He was 70 years of age and leaves to honor his memory his wife, Willa; their three daughters and sons-in-law: Brenda S. and A. Glen Vannette of Washington, Illinois, Pamela K. and James E. Meadows of Indianola, Iowa, Debra L. and Randy L. Clark of Knoxville, Iowa; and four grandchildren: Matthew, Rebecca and Sarah Vannette and Scott Meadows. Of his original family Gerrit leaves three sisters and their husbands: Mildred and William Vander Hoek of Monroe, Iowa, Esther and William Wellington of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Pearl and Riley Van Zee of Newton, Iowa; one brother: Marvin Branderhorst and his wife, Pauline, of Pella; a sister-in-law, Jennie(William)Branderhorst of Newton and a brother-in-law, Cornelius (Leona Branderhorst) Van Soelen of Sully, Iowa. He is also survived by the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Jean (Schimmel) Costache, David and Zelda Schimmel of Pella, Dody (Schimmel) and Leland Braun of Prairie City, Iowa and Wilma (Henry Schimmel) Beyer of Monroe, Iowa.

Gerrit was preceded in death by his parents, Gerrit and Evalena Branderhorst; four sisters and their husbands: Marie and John Vos, Dorothy and Albert De Koning, Wilma and Harold Van Zee, Leona (Cose) Van Soelen; his brother, William Branderhorst; his parents-in-law, Vornelius and Cora Schimmel; and brothers-in-law, Henry Schimmel and George Costache. Gerrit was faithful member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella where he was actively involved in small group Bible study and enjoyed making visits to the elderly and shut-ins of the church for the pastoral team. He enjoyed helping others especially his brothers and brother-in-law on their farms. He also enjoyed collecting miniature farm equipment and toys and loved music. Gerrit was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother in Christ.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 1:30 pm at Calvary Christian Reformed Church, Pella, Iowa. Interment will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery at Pella, Iowa. Visitation will begin Wednesday afternoon at Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella where the family will be present Wednesday from 3-6 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in his memory be designated for the Christian Opportunity Center in Pella or for the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee Missions.