Bruinekool, Sophia Mary (Lautenbach) 1905-2006

LAUTENBACH, VER STEEG, ULRICH, BRUINEKOOL

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 12/10/2006 at 19:37:37

Sophia Mary Lautenbach was the youngest child of the late Charles and Katherine Ulrich Lautenbach. She was born on December 11, 1905, in Pella, Iowa.

Sophia was educated in the Pella Public Schools, graduating from Pella High School and then Central College in Pella with the Class of 1927. Sophia worked for the Department of Safety in Des Moines, Iowa and Ver Dught Insurance Agency at Pella.

In 1931 she was united in marriage with Arthur Mansford Ver Steeg, a teacher and coach in Iowa City, Iowa. Their marriage ended six months later due to his physical anomaly. On May 31, 1949, she was united in marriage with Henry Arthur Bruinekool.

They and Art's four children, Grover, Douglas, Dwayne and Joan, became a blended family. Sophia managed the Central Book Store on the campus of Central College and Art carried on the family well drilling business until his retirement in 1971. Art passed away on April 6, 1974, at the age of 68 years.

Sophia continued living in Pella, a city she dearly loved. She resided at Hilltop Manor North for 11 years and in April of 2006 she was transferred to the Vista Woods Care Center in Ottumwa, Iowa. Sophia passed away there on Tuesday morning, November 21, 2006, 20 days prior to her 101st birthday.

Those who will cherish her memory are two step-children: Dwayne Bruinekool and his wife, Marcella (Sally) of Oskaloosa, Iowa; Joan and her husband, Ray Kersey of Portland, Oregon; another step- daughter-in-law, Myra (Grover) Bruinekool of Pella; and several nieces and nephews. Sophia's 11 grandchildren: Virgil, David, Nina, Elizabeth, Stella, Miles, Brenda, Todd, Mary, Carla and LeRoy and 3 step-grandchildren: Robert, Fallon and Adrienne, will remember the great candy and cookies she always made at Christmas time.

Sophia was preceded in death by her husbands, Arthur Ver Steeg and Arthur Bruinekool; two step-sons: Grover Bruinekool and Douglas Bruinekool and his wife, Nell; her parents: Charles and Katherine Lautenbach; and her five brothers and a sister: Casper Lautenbach, Sara Lautenbach who died at the age of 16 years, Robert, Paul, Fred and Lee Lautenbach.

Sophia was a lifelong, faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Pella. She enjoyed following sports, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes and Central College. Sophia was a very special lady.

For those desiring memorials may be designated for the First Baptist Church or Hospice of Pella in Pella, Iowa.

The Pella Chronicle, December 8, 2006