Gertrude came to the U.S. in 1889 after the death of her husband Peter. Her son Anton returned to Germany from America and brought Gertrude and her 2 youngest sons Andrew and Julius to America. They traveled on the ship Lahn from Bremen and SouthHampton to New York arriving on August 28, 1889. She settled in the Indianapolis area where her 2 older sons Anton and August and 1 daughter Maria had already made a home. Gertrude attended Sacred Heart Parrish and her 2 youngest sons attended school there. During the 1900 census, Gertrude was living with 2 of her son's, Andrew and Julius at 1266 East St. in Indianapolis. This was a rental house. According to the census, Gertrude had 12 children but only 8 were living at that time. She never became a US citizen and she never learned to read, write, or speak English. Gertrude only spent 11 years of her life in America before becoming ill with disseminated sclerosis. She died March 16th 1901. She is buried at St. Joseph Cemetery in Indianapolis. She was living at 256 Iowa St. at the time of her death.