Gabriella "Gaye" E Maertens

Gabriella "Gaye" Maertens, age 80 of Menahga, MN, passed away peacefully at St Joseph's Hospital in Park Rapids, MN on Wednesday, July 23, 2014. She was born April 16, 1934 in Chicago, IL to Marcel and Zoe Degraer. The family lived in Chicago and then moved to East Moline, IL, where Gaye grew up and attended St Mary's Grade School. She graduated from Allemean High School in Back Island, IL and then attended Marycrest College in Davenport, IA. Gaye married Ronald Maertens on June 16, 1956. She taught sixth grade at St Mary's School in Moline, IL for on year and third grade at Holy Family School in Davenport IA, for one year. Gaye also held a Secretarial Position at University of Illinois in Urbana, IL and a secretarial position at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA, and an obstetrics technician at a local hospital in Illinios. Gaye was preceded in death by her loving husband Ronald, her parents, Marcel and Zoe Degraer, and a nephew, David Hunt. Gaye is survived by her three children Daniel (Janet) of Andover MN, Catherine (Pam best friend ) of St Cloud, MN Thomas (Dorothy) of Brooklyn Center, MN, sister Marcella Hunt of Silvis, IL, Brother Robert (Mildred) Degraer of Monroe MI, niece Therese Hunt of San Diego, CA, six grandchildren; Andrew, Charles, Mary, Jane, Edward and James, and numerous cousins. For more information please call the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home 218-732-5131. To leave on line condolences please visit www.jonespearson.com.