Van Den Berg, Jeannette (Kaldenberg) 1919-2009

KALDENBERT, SJAARDEMA, VAN DEN BERG, VAN RYSWYK

Posted By: Ernie Braida (email)
Date: 1/13/2010 at 10:15:40

Jeannette Elizabeth Kaldenberg was the fourth of twelve children born to Rutt and Sibbelina(Sadie) Catharina Sjaardema Kaldenberg. She was born on September 29, 1919, in Sully, Iowa.

She completed high school in Sully in 1937, the first of her siblings to have the opportunity to graduate. She obtained a teaching certificate from William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Jeannette was 18 years of age when she started teaching at Pease, Minnesota. After a year she took a teaching job at Rose Hill Country School near Galesburg, Iowa. The school director, John van den Berg, and his wife, Mary, provided room and board for her and that is how she met her future husband, their son, Evertt Jerry Van Den Berg.

Jeannette and Jerry were married on October 12, 1940, in Pella, Iowa. They lived in Newton, Iowa where Jerry was employed at Parsons Company and Jeannette was a homemaker. During World War II they lived a short time in Bremerton, Washington where they worked at the shipyards. After the war, they returned to the Van Den Berg family farm near Galesburg, Iowa.

They were blessed with five children: Judith Lavonne, Jerry Lee, Jimmy Lynn, Janet Louise and Joan Lori. Jerry and Jeannette enjoyed living on the farm where they raised their children.

Jeannette worked part time when their children were older, but was primarily a homemaker and helped with the farm work. After Jerry’s retirement they enjoyed spending the winters in Mesa, Arizona for over 20 years.

Jerry passed away unexpectedly on July 21, 2000, just prior to their 60th wedding anniversary. A year after his death, Jeannette sold the family farm home and moved into Midtown Apartments in Pella, Iowa and continued to winter in Arizona until 2 years ago.

On Tuesday afternoon, May 5, 2009, Jeannette passed away at her residence in Pella five months prior to her 90th birthday.

Those who will cherish her memory are her five children and their spouses, 13 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. They and their families are: Judith and Sidney Holden of Spokane, Washington; Jerry Van Den Berg of Ankeny, Iowa;Jim and Janice (Van Willigen) Vanden Berg of Pella, Iowa; Janet and Michael Chapman of Pella, Iowa; Joan Vanden Berg and Tim Kelly of Iowa City, Iowa.

Of her original family, Jeannette leaves the following sisters and brothers and their spouses: Kathryn Van Zante of Pella, Dewey Kaldenberg of Ankeny, Iowa, George Kaldenberg of Florida, Ruth Hannay of Grinnell, Iowa, Agnes Masselink of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Sibel Hanson of Tucson, Arizona, Dot and Bob De Ronde of Pella, Chic Visser of Pella, Darlene and Wayne Klein of Pella.

Jeannette was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry; her parents, Rutt and Sadie Kaldenberg; her parents-in-law, John and Mary Ellerbroek Van Ryswyk van den Berg; her oldest brother and his wife, John and Ada Kaldenberg; three brothers-in-law: Harris Van Zante, Edward Hannay and Buck Visser; and two sisters-in-law: Minnie Mae Van Den Berg (Dewey) Kaldenberg and Lena (George) Kaldenberg.

Jeannette was a faithful member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa. She loved being outdoors, appreciated music and enjoyed crocheting, knitting, doing crossword puzzles and playing cards. Jeannette was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother and sister who loved to have fun with her family. She had a great sense of humor and shared many laughs with her siblings, especially on their yearly trips together. She was blessed with wisdom and good common sense, guided by her faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery

Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home