Van Zante, Rena Mae 1924-2021

VAN ZANTE, VOS, BRUMMEL, ROODA, BENSINK

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 9/21/2021 at 15:46:45

Rena Mae Van Zante
February 14, 1924 - September 15, 2021

Rena Mae Van Zante, age 97 of Monroe, passed away on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at West Ridge Specialty Care in Knoxville. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 4:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Monroe. The family will greet friends following the service until 6:30 pm at the church. Memorials may be directed to the church and condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com

Rena Mae Van Zante was born Feb 14 1924 to John and Hattie Vos Brummel at Givin, Iowa. Mae was the first born of 4 daughters including Florence, Mary and Betty. She attended rural schools in the Leighton area. She worked at the Rolscreen Company, the Pella Canning Factory and Pella Overall Factory. She met her future husband at the roller skating rink in Pella. After serving 2 years in the Navy, Gerald proposed and they were married Jan 18, 1946 at the home of her aunt and uncle. It was a mild wintry day, almost 70 degrees and pictures were taken outside. They set up housekeeping in Pella across from West Market Park, later moving to a farm west of the 4 mile crossing. In 1952 they moved to Monroe and bought a plumbing business. Mae was the backbone of the business, running errands, picking up supplies in Des Moines and keeping Gerald on target.

In 1947 Donna Rae was born with Ronald Gene joining in 1949 and John Dee in 1953. Her children remember Mom as a wonderful homemaker. There were always 3 full meals a day, the laundry was always clean, she had a garden and shared meals with the older neighbors. The house was neat and tidy and at 4:00 everyday she cleaned the post office across the alley. She belonged to the Todays club, the Mothers Club, the Westminster Circle at the church. She and Gerald were loyal members of the Good Sams Club. Mae and Gerald loved the Iowa State Fair and for many years were the superintendents of Pioneer Hall.

Rena Mae is survived by her husband Gerald, her children Donna Rooda, Ron and Bonnie Van Zante and John Van Zante. Rena loved all of her 11 grandchildren and they loved her and especially her frozen choc chip cookies that they had to sneak down to the freezer and get. She was so proud of her 21 great grandchildren and looked forward to their visits. But telling you she had 10 great great grandchildren made her smile so big. She is also survived by her brother in law Henry Bensink and many nieces and nephews. Many family members who she loved and cherished have passed on before her.

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Services

SERVICE

Tuesday 21 Sept
First Presbyterian Church
113 S Main Street
Monroe, Iowa 50170
4:00 PM

VISITATION

SEP
21
Tuesday 21 Sept
First Presbyterian Church
113 S Main Street
Monroe, Iowa 50170
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM ~ The Coburn Funeral Home, Monroe, Iowa 156 Sept 2021.