Tibboel, Erma Leona (Van Zante) 1918-2007

TIBBOEL, VAN ZANTE, WEYMERS, RIETVELD, DUENWALD

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/12/2007 at 19:59:36

PRAIRIE CITY — Erma Leona Tibboel, 89, of Prairie City, died Friday, Oct. 5, 2007 at Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella. Funeral services will be Saturday at the Christian Reformed Church at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella following a luncheon at the church. Visitation will be on Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Pella and Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Coburn Funeral Home in Prairie City where family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Newton (IA) Daily News, Tuesday, October 9, 2007

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Erma Leona Tibboel, age 89, of Prairie City, died Friday, October 5, 2007 at Pella Regional Health Long Term Care. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at the Christian Reformed Church at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella following a luncheon at the church. A visitation for Mrs. Tibboel will be held on Thursday, October 11, 2007 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Pella. On Friday there will be visitation from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Coburn Funeral Home in Prairie City. The family will greet friends from 6:00 8:00 p.m. Memorials may be given to the Prairie City Christian Reformed Church or Hospice of Pella.

Erma Leona (Van Zante) Tibboel, the oldest of two daughters was born to John H. and Marie (Weyers) Van Zante on January 29, 1918 on a farm northwest of Prairie City, Iowa. At the age of 4 weeks the family moved to a farm east of Prairie City, where she lived for the next 8 years. At the age of 10, her family purchased a farm south east of Prairie City where Erma lived for the next 77 years. During her childhood, Erma attended 3 different country schools and graduated 8th grade from Capitol Prairie School located just east of her family farm. Erma attended Monroe Community High School, graduating in 1935. At this time she became a full time helper to her father on the farm.

In her early years, Erma became an accomplished pianist, which she continued to enjoy until her health failed. Her high school years had an emphasis on secretarial classes, which she was able to use in a later life as she served various organizations in the secretary capacity. On April 4, 1944, Erma was united in marriage with Frank Tibboel at the home of her parents. The first year of their marriage the lived in Lawton, Oklahoma and Brownwood, Texas, while Frank was stationed in the Army. While living there Frank and Erma made some lifetime friends that they have always stayed in contact with. Erma also did some cleaning, laundry and ironing for hire that first year.

In 1946, upon Frank’s discharge from the Army, they returned to the family farm and took over the farming operation. In 1985, Frank and Erma received the award of Master Sheep Producers for the State of Iowa, a reward much deserved due to their hard work and perfection in the sheep industry. In 1990 they were featured in Wallaces Farmer Magazine for their sheep operation. They were also awarded a special 4-H award in 1998 for their involvement with the youth in 4-H. Erma’s pride and joy was her beautiful flower gradens that she was able to maintain until just a few years ago. She still enjoyed flowers and loved the special flowers outside her window while she resided at Jefferson Place. She was an excellent pie baker and always had cookies to share. In her younger years she enjoyed crocheting many beautiful items.

Surviving Erma are: daughter, Arla K. Rietveld of Pella; daughter-in-law Linda Tibboel of Pleasantville; 4 grandchildren and four great grandchildren; Shannan (Tom) Duenwald and their two children Lucas and Erin of Pella; Chadrick (Laura) Rietveld of Leighton; Tracy (Dannis) Tibboel and Dustie of Pleasantville, Teryl (Trena) Tibboel and Taryn of Knoxville. Preceding her in death were her parents, sister Ruth (At the age of 19), husband Frank and a son, Harold R. Tibboel.

Coburn Funeral Home website