Van Genderen, Sylvia Mae 1929-2015

VAN GENDEREN, GOEMAAT, VANDER BEEK, VAN MAAREN, CREASY, MATTHESS, CAROLAN, VER PLOEG, TERPSTRA, ELSCOTT, BRAND, HUYSER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 12/21/2015 at 20:58:35

Obituary for Sylvia Van Genderen
December 10, 1929 - December 16, 2015

Sylvia Mae Vander Beek was born in Sully, Iowa on December 10, 1929. She was a daughter of Antonie P. and Tunnie (Goemaat) Vander Beek. Sylvia attended school in Sully from kindergarten through high school, where she graduated in 1948. While in high school she dated Claris Eugene Van Genderen and also began working at the Sully Community Lockers. On March 14, 1950, she and Claris were united in marriage at the First Reformed Church in Sully and to this union two daughters were born: Mary Ann, on February 9, 1951, and Laura Lee, on January 18, 1952. Sylvia began working for the Sully Telephone Association in 1954 and continued working there and at the locker part time until her retirement in 2004. Music was always a very important part of Sylvia’s life. She was a lifelong member of the First Reformed Church in Sully. She sang for many weddings and funerals and served as the youth choir director for many years and then directed the Alleluia choir at the church. Following her retirement from directing, Sylvia continued to sing in the Alleluia choir until Claris’ health declined. Claris passed away on September 7, 2011, following a valiant battle with cancer. When Sylvia’s health prevented her from attending church, she kept up with the morning worship services through live streaming on the computer after moving to Park Centre in Newton, Iowa.

On Wednesday afternoon, December 16, 2015, she passed away there having just celebrated her 86th birthday. Sylvia leaves her two daughters and their husbands: Mary Ann and Conrad Van Maaren of Kellogg, Iowa, Laura Lee and Gary Creasy of Grinnell, Iowa; four grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren: Sara and Duane Matthess and their children: Tavius, Tate, Isabelle, and Landon of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Rev. Paul and Courtney Van Maaren and their children: Hannah, Olivia, and Ella of Sheldon, Iowa; Leah and Rick Carolan and their children: Zadok and Isaiah of Cedar Rapids; Joel and Katy Van Maaren and their children: Hadleigh and Reid of St. Louis, Missouri. Of her original family Sylvia leaves just one sister-in-law, Joyce (Van Genderen) and her husband, Dick Ver Ploeg, Jr. of Sully; along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband for 61 years, Claris Van Genderen; her parents, A. P. (Tone) and Tunnie Vander Beek; her two sisters and a brother and their spouses: Pearl and Nelson Terpstra, Verna and Glen Elscott, Abraham and Sara Rose Vander Beek; her parents-in-law, Leonard and Jennie (Brand) Van Genderen; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lucille (Van Genderen) and Vernon Huyser.

Funeral services will be held
Monday, December 21, 2015 at 10:30 a.m.
First Reformed Church, Sully, Iowa
Interment will follow in the Sully Cemetery at Sully, Iowa

Visitation with family present will be held Sunday afternoon from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the First Reformed Church in Sully.

Memorial contributions may be designated for the Legacy Building Fund at the First Reformed Church in Sully. ~ The Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home, Pella, Iowa