GERTIE SIMMERMAN Indianola Services for Gertie Simmerman, 87, who died Sunday, March 24, 2013 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, will be held 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 28 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola with burial following in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Gertie was born Gertrude Marie Vanderpool on April 8, 1925 to Frank Nick and Gertrude Myrtle (Cisco) Vanderpool in Cainsville, Missouri. She was the youngest of fourteen children with all of her siblings preceding her in death. Gertie graduated from Milo High School. On June 16, 1945, she was united in marriage to Merrill James Simmerman and together they raised three children, Connie, Jill and David. In her younger years, Gertie was a 4-H leader and active in her country church. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and a long time member of T.O.P.S. Gertie enjoyed gardening and sewing but her real love was her family. Survivors include her husband, Merrill; children, Connie (Neal) Fry, Jill (Gary) Downey and David (Pamela) Simmerman; grandchildren, Brady (Diane) Fry, Stacey (Dave) Geiger, Angie Fry Boyens and Jarid (Jacy) Downey; great-grandchildren, Ellie, Gaige, Chase, Camryn, Ryder, Bowen and Sully; and a host of other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held 4 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 27 at Overton Funeral Home where family will be present from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be given to the Indianola Fire and Rescue Department or Mercy Hospice in Johnston.