William Van Weelden (1924-2004)

VAN WEELDEN, DYKSTRA, DAVIS, BRANDERHORST, COURDUFF, KELDERMAN, SPOELSTRA, NUNNIKHOVEN, GOEMAAT, BOENDER, CALLAS, VAN KOOTEN, WALRAVEN, GROENENDYK

Posted By: volunteer
Date: 1/24/2020 at 17:10:54

William Van Weelden, Jr., passed away at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella, IA on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 1, 2004, at the age of 80 years, 3 months and 19 days.

Bill's memory is honored by his wife, Wilma of Oskaloosa; three daughters: Sharon Davis of Pella; Laura (Ron) Branderhorst of Pella and Linda (Randall) Courduff of Clarksville, TN; and a son, William Benjamin (Twyla) Van Weelden of Brookfield, WI. He was blessed with 10 grandchildren: Shadon, Shandy Davis; Bryan (Tracey) Branderhorst; Daniel (Amy) Branderhorst, Karla Branderhorst; Sara Courduff and William, Mark, John & Kathryn Van Weelden. He is survived by 6 brothers and 4 sisters: John (Ruth) Van Weelden of Oskaloosa; Sylvia Kelderman of Oskaloosa; Dorothy De Ronde of Oskaloosa; Henry (Grace) Van Weelden of Oskaloosa; Rev. James (Adrianna) Van Weelden of Ontario, Canada; Ray (Wilma) Van Weelden of Oskaloosa; Ernest (Mary Ann) Van Weelden of Wesley, IA; Anna Kelderman of Mesa, AZ; Harold (Eileen) Van Weelden of Oskaloosa and Frances (Les) Spoelstra of Redlands, CA; his mother-in-law, Grace Nunnikhoven of Oskaloosa; and Wilma's family: Glenda (Don) Goemaat of New Sharon, IA; Stan (Lila) Boender of Oskaloosa; Wanita (George) Callas of Alta Loma, CA; 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and 3 brother and sisters-in-law; Abe Nunnikhoven, Mary Ann (Cornie) Van Kooten, and Frances (Marvin) Walraven, all of Oskaloosa.

William "Bill" Van Weelden, son of William and Jennie Bouma Van Weelden Sr. was born May 13, 1924, on the family farm in the Harrison Township, Mahaska County, Iowa. He attended Red and Elm Grove Schools, where he graduated 8th grade. He worked with his father and brothers on the family farm prior to being drafted into the U.S. Army on Oct. 3, 1944. Bill served as a medic in the Asiatic Pacific Theater and was discharged on November 3, 1946. Bill returned to Mahaska County where he married Joanna Rose Groenendyk on December 17, 1946 in Cedar, IA; together they began farming in the Oskaloosa area. Bill also worked in the farm implement business. After retiring from farming he worked for Kelderman Manufacturing. Bill & Joanna were married 50 years before she passed away on July 8, 1997. He married Wilma Nunnikhoven Boender on May 22, 1998. Bill was an active member of the First Christian Reformed Church, serving as an Elder and as a Sunday school teacher at his church and at the Good News Chapel. Bill enjoyed singing and was a charter member of the Gospel Singers Male Chorus, with whom he sang for 30 years. Bill enjoyed spending time with immediate and extended family, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Joanna; a brother, Peter Van Weelden, one sister, Jean Boender and a brother in infancy.

His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, at First Christian Church in Oskaloosa, the Rev. Kenneth Dykstra officiating. A family prayer service will be 10:15 a.m. Saturday in the church basement. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery near Leighton, with military rites by Harry L. Anderson Post No. 34, American Legion, and V.F.W. Post No. 2237. Visiting hours are open today at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa, with family present 6-8 p.m. today. Memorials: Mahaska Hospice or Hospice of Pella Comfort House.

(from The Oskaloosa Herald, Friday, September 3, 2004, p. 5A)