Gertrude (Trudy) Banks

Published 1:10 pm Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Gertrude (Trudy) Banks went home to be with the Lord April 26, 2025. Her final days were spent surrounded by family and friends.

Trudy was born to Sigmund and Olga Wegner on Sept. 8, 1923, in Kaunas, Lithuania. Everyone who met Trudy knew how special a person she was, her infectious smile comforting to all — 101 years of a life well lived.

Trudy spent the early part of her life in Lithuania until the family was forced to Poland and finally Germany. They settled in Augsburg, Germany, where she met the love of her life, Nelse Banks. They were married on Dec. 24, 1948, and had 76 wonderful years together. They eventually relocated to Carter County, Tennessee, where they had their four children. Trudy was a member of First United Methodist Church in Elizabethton.

Trudy is survived by her husband, Nelse Banks of the home; daughters Barbara Nye, Shirley Hughes (James), and Terry Brumit Ogg (Stan), all of Elizabethton; son Roger Banks (Brenda), Corpus Christi, Texas; grandchildren Jim Nye, Jeff Nye, Jennifer Ritchie, Clinton Hughes, Lucas Hughes, Lourean Hughes, Curtis Brumit, Chris Brumit, Jessica Brumit (and their father, John Brumit), Matthew Banks, Michele Banks and Austin Banks; sister-in-law Blondhin Wegner, Canada; nephews Arkadij and Dieter, Germany; and several great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her beloved parents; her brother, Siegfried Wegner; sister, Irma Ruf; her niece, Rosemarie Frank; and great-grandson, Johnathan Nye.

A service will be held Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 7 p.m. at Memorial Funeral Chapel with Pastor Ray Amos Sr. officiating. The family will receive family and friends from 6 to 7 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 2, 2025, at Mountain Home National Cemetery (Historic Section). Pallbearers will be all her loving grandsons. Family and friends need to meet at the cemetery at 10:45 a.m.

We would like to say thank you to Dr. Johnathan Bremer, Jill and the office staff, the staff of Ivy Hall for their excellent and compassionate care, and her friend and caregiver, Alicia Morefield. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Banks family.