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Van Laar, Helen Vie Baker

VAN LAAR, BAKER, KRAUS, DEMUTH, STREET, JENKINS, LYNCH

Posted By: KEN BAKER (email)
Date: 11/26/2018 at 16:46:38

Osceola Sentinel Tribune 9 7 1995

Helen Vye Baker VanLaar, the daughter of John Francis and Harriet Jane Street Baker, was born Aug. 1, 1893, on a farm near Grand River and died Aug. 25, 1995, at Westview Acres in Leon. She was 102.

Mrs. Van Laar attended Jefferson country school. Her family homesteaded in South Dakota for one year. She celebrated her 16th birthday in South Dakota before the family returned to the farm near Grand River.

She married Fred Van Laar on August 21, 1912, in Leon and they became parents of six children. The couple farmed near Grand River for 36 years before retiring and moving into Grand River in 1948.

After Mr. Van Laar's death in 1963, she continued to live in her home in Grand River and lived there until after she was 100.

Mrs. Van Laar was always on the go, running instead of walking. She raised chickens and hatched the eggs in incubators and took care of her vegetable and flower gardens.

Even though her eyesight failed, she continue her handiwork, knitting and crocheting by feel.

Mrs. Van Laar made her home at Westview Acres in Leon for the past year and a half.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband Fred in 1963, one sister, Hazel Tuttle of Las Vegas, and two brothers, Sherman Baker of Grand River and Ralph Baker of Wyoming.

Survivors include her six children, Lucile Kraus of Waterloo, Lurene Brammer and her husband, Carl Brammer of Murray; John Van Laar and his wife Verda Van Laar, Donald Van Laasr and his wife Merna Van Laar and Raymond Van Laar and his wife Anna Van Laar all of Grand River and Dorothy Jenkins of Hemet, California; 16 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, 16 great-great grandchildren; one brother Frank baker and his wife Delma Baker of Las Vegas, Nev., other relatives and friends.

A funeral service for Mrs. Van Laar as held Aug. 29 at the Grand River Methodist Church Pastor Wendi Gillan officiating. The pianist JoAnn Boles accompanied Rich Lynch, Mrs. Van Laar's grandson, as he sang How Great Thou Art and the Old Rugged Cross.

Casket bearers were her grandsons, Vincent DeMuth, Kenneth Kraus, Danny Van Laar, Jack Van Laar, Jerle Van Laar and Randy Van Laar. Interment was in Oak Hill Cemetery near Grand River, Iowa.

Arrangements were made by Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home of Leon.


 

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