Memorial

Gertrude Mae “Trudy” Hegarty, 95, a resident of The Woodlands in the Meth-Wick Community, went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 29, 2024. 

She was born in North Liberty, Iowa, on July 18, 1929, the seventh of nine siblings. She graduated from Cedar Rapids Roosevelt High School in 1947. She attended Northwestern College in downtown Minneapolis and Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta. She and Rev. John D. Hegarty were married on May 8, 1954, at Calvary Baptist Church, and were proud residents of the westside for the remainder of their lives. Together, they raised their family with a devout faith and strong love for the Lord.

Trudy was employed as a secretary and bookkeeper for several area dentists over the years: Stan Cejka, John Roalson, Christine Waste and Arlon Berkhof. 

Her greatest joys in life were her faith, her family, her friends, and her home. She was always very proud of each family member and enjoyed the times they shared together. She cherished the simple things in life: music and singing, Sunday church services (followed by lunch at Bishops Buffet), picnics at Ellis Park, holiday dinners, puzzles, and spending the winter months at Gulf Shores, Alabama in retirement.

God blessed her with a tender and compassionate spirit. Her greatest gift to the world was her testimony of the love of Jesus Christ. She was a devoted wife and mother who was dearly loved by her family and a blessing to all who knew her. The family will gather for a Celebration of Life. Committal of John and Trudy’s cremains will be conducted in the spring.

Survivors include one son, John (Kay) Hegarty Jr., two daughters, Elizabeth (Dave) Posekany and Jennifer (Brad) Hoeppner, four grandchildren, Lindsey, Dawson, Alyssa, and Shelby, and Trudy’s sisters Beverly Lentz and Suzan Johnson.

Trudy was preceded in death by her husband, John Hegarty Sr., her parents, Earl and Gertrude (Reasland) Lentz; her sisters Esther Shanklin, Betty Downs, Ruth Shain, Edna Oberhaus, and brothers Earl Lentz Jr., and John Lentz.

The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses, staff and friends at the Meth-Wick Community, as well as the staff at Care Initiatives Hospice, for their compassionate care of Trudy during her final years. Memorials can be directed to the Meth-Wick Community.

Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,
Nor the furious winter’s rages;
Tho’ thy worldly task hast done,
Thou hast finished joy and moan;
Quiet consummation have,
At peace be thy eternity!