Stravers, Evalena Elizabeth (Wynberg)

STRAVERS, WYNBERG, SLINGS

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/26/2008 at 19:41:10

Evalena Elizabeth Wynberg was born on April 25, 1922, in Eddyville, Iowa, to John and Cornelia Slings Wynberg, the youngest of their five children.

Evie, as she was known, moved to Pella, Iowa with her family in 1924 where she attended the Pella Christian Grade School and Pella High School. She went on to study at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan for two years and later received a teaching degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. While Evie was attending the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella she met her future husband, Anthony (Tony) Stravers.

They were united in marriage there on August 6, 1943, on her parent's 40th wedding anniversary. Following their marriage Evie and Tony made their home in Sully, Iowa where Tony worked at the lumber yard and Evie taught at a nearby country school. In 1950 they moved to Liscomb, Iowa where Evie was busy with their three sons: Joe Henry, Jon W. and Jay Anthony.

In 1955 the family moved to Colfax, Iowa and it was during this time that Evie returned to teaching at the Prairie City Christian Grade School in Prairie City, Iowa.

In 1960 the family moved to Pella when Tony and his brother, Gerald (Jerry) Stravers, purchased the hardware store, which became known as Stravers Hardware. Evie continued her teaching career at the Pella Christian Grade School where she taught from 1960-1970; at the Prairie City Christian Grade School in Prairie City from 1972-1982; and at Pella Christian High School from 1982-1989. Teaching was a significant part of Evie's life as she not only taught pupils but she taught her sons lessons in life and encouraged their development.

Then beginning in 1985, Evie and Tony fostered a young Vietnamese boy, Steve (Vu) Nguyen, while he attended the Pella Christian Grade School and Pella Christian High School. He went on to attend Cal State Fullerton at Fullerton, California and Palmer Chiropractic College at Davenport, Iowa. Steve is a Doctor of Chiropractic, now living in Arlington, Texas, and remains an integral part of the family. Following their retirement Evie and Tony enjoyed some wonderful travels around the world including the Netherlands, Russia, China, Costa Rica and the Ukraine. Tony passed away on April 28, 2000.

Following his death Evie moved into the Pella Manor and spent the last several winters in Mesa, Arizona.

Evie passed away early Saturday morning March 10, 2007, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella at the age of 84 years, 10 months and 15 days.

She is survived by her son Joe H. Stravers, a producer of an educational television series, living in Delray Beach, Florida; her son, Jon W. Stravers, the research coordinator for the National Audubon Society Mississippi River Initiative, living near McGregor, Iowa; her son Jay A. Stravers, a professor of Geology at Northern Illinois University, and his wife, Loreen who live in DeKalb, Illinois; and a former daughter-in-law and special friend, Sherril Graham of Pella. Evie leaves three grandchildren: Lisa Kay Stravers Seeliger and her husband, Wayne Seeliger of Boise, Idaho; Jon Anthony Stravers and his partner Kristen Talbot of Boise; Evan Stravers, a freshman at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, Illinois; and two great-grandchildren: Jonah Chiricahua Stravers and Sage Telaya Seelinger both of Boise. Evie leaves a brother, Henry Wynberg and his wife, Millie of Phoenix, Arizona; a sister, Ada Dean of Pella; and the following brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Joe and Pearl Stravers, Dick and Ruth Stravers all of Holland, Michigan; Jan (Stravers) and Jim Monsma of Medford, Mass.; Jennie (Gilbert) Stravers of Sully; and Lucille (Gerald) Stravers of Pella.

Evie was preceded in death by her husband, Tony Stravers; her parents, John and Cornelia Wynberg; her sister, Cora Bos and her husband, John and her brother, Hubert Wynberg and his wife, Berdene.

Evie was a faithful member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella; had been associated with The Teachers Institute; and was an active supporter of the Bible League. She enjoyed cooking, baking and doing ceramics and will long be remembered as a very benevolent person.

Memorials in Evie's name may be designated for the Pella Regional Health Center or Hospice of Pella in Pella Iowa.

The Pella Chronicle, April 13, 2007