MEENDERING, Ella (Van Maanen) 1914-2001

MEENDERING, VAN MAANEN, MULDER

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 9/23/2008 at 20:22:42

Ella (Van Maanen) Meendering was born December 16, 1914 the daughter of Evert and Maggie (Mulder) Van Maanen on a farm two miles west of “Perkins Corner” in Sioux county, Iowa.

On February 21, 1939 Ella was united in marriage to Andrew Meendering at the home of Ella's parents near Perkins. Following their marriage Ella and Andrew farmed in the Doon, Lyon county, Iowa, area before moving to a farm north of George, also in Lyon county, Iowa where they farmed for many years.

During this time the family belonged to Bethel Reformed Church of rural Ellsworth, Minnesota. On February 23, 1964, just two days after celebrating their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, Andrew died. Ella continued living on the farm for a while and then in January of 1965 she moved into George. After moving to George, Ella became a member of Hope Reformed Church southwest of George.

Ella worked as a cook in the George school for several years. In her leisure time Ella, enjoyed playing cards, crocheting and knitting, and she became an accomplished seamstress-making bridesmaid and wedding dresses. She also liked the outdoors and fishing along the river where whatever she caught she cleaned and prepared for meals. Watching basketball was another pastime for Ella and she was an ever-present spectator at the George gymnasium. Her continued attendance and support of the basketball program was duly noted when she was awarded a special letter "G" as an honorary letter winner.

Having concern for others was a mainstay in Ella's life and for many years she volunteered at the Good Samaritan Center. This too was noticed, and she was honored in Des Moines and received the Governor's Volunteer Award. In 1997 Ella moved to Rock Rapids, Lyon county, Iowa and settled at Rosewood Heights Apartments and then a year later she became a resident of Good Samaritan Center in George. Last Thursday, May 2, 2002, Ella died at the Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital in Rock Rapids at the age of eighty-seven.

Surviving Ella are seven children and their spouses, Marlene (Harlyn) Stubbe of George, Gerald (Diann) Meendering of Storm Lake, Iowa, Ed (Leona) Meendering of Sibley, Iowa, Gladys (Dwight) Shaffer of George, Audrey (Conrad) DeNoble of Rock Rapids, Lucille (Wayne) Steenhoven and Eleanor (Alan) Julius all of George. Also surviving are fifteen grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren along with four brothers Bert, Tom and Harold Van Maanen all of Hull, Iowa, Ed Van Maanen of Doon, Iowa and three sisters Mina Hoekstra and Margaret Hoekstra both of Hull and Jane Hoksbergen of Boyden, Iowa.

Preceding Ella in death were her parents, husband, daughter Louella Ann, grandson Johnathan Ray Julius, great-granddaughter Kimberly Ann Stubbe and brother Roy Van Maanen.

Funeral services for Ella Meendering were held Saturday, May 4, 2002 at Hope Reformed Church of George, Iowa with interment at Hope Cemetery, Hull, Iowa

(From funeral program)