Vande Lune, Genevieve (Drewes) 1919-2009

HESSE, DREWES, VANDE LUNE, VANDER WIEL

Posted By: Ernie Braida (email)
Date: 1/13/2010 at 11:20:23

Genevieve Drewes was born on February 12, 1919, in Muskegan, Michigan. She was an only daughter of Andrew and Tina Hesse Drewes.

Both she and her two brothers, Henry and Egbert, attended the public school and being a city girl and the fact her parents didn't own a car, she did a lot of walking to and from school and church. She completed junior high, then did housework and babysitting until she was old enough to sew 'long johns' in a factory. In 1940 she and some of her girl friends piled into a 1929 Model A Ford and coasted down the hills into Iowa.

Genevieve met Wilbert Gerrit Vande Lune at a young people's meeting at the Prairie City Christian Reformed Church in Prairie City, Iowa. From time to time she would ride back to Iowa from Michigan and this is when the romance began to flourish. The couple was married in the Drewes home in Michigan on August 25, 1942.

Wilbert continued to work on Dad's farm for a while and then hired out as a farm hand and to this union four children were born: David Lee, Norma Jean, Ronald Paul and Joyce Elaine. Because Genevieve was a 'stay-at-home' city girl, she didn't mind living in the country even though she did miss electricity and indoor plumbing.

In 1945 they rented their first farm near Cedar, Iowa and then moved to a farm near New Sharon, Iowa. In 1953 they moved East of Pella, Iowa and began to farm the land they eventually owned. This proved to be the place where their children grew up, had a large well-stocked pond close to the house and an attractive windmill which became a landmark. Genevieve and Wilbert (Bill) moved into Pella, 1342 Northwest Drive in 1976 and sold the farm in 1991.

One can conclude immediately upon entering their home Genevieve was a 'flower-person' nor could she sit still. For several years she cleaned at Strawtown, was involved with the Pella Community Hospital Auxiliary, taught Sunday School and was president of the Senior Ladies Aid Society at the First Christian Reformed Church.

She enjoyed reading, ceramics, baking and cooking. Genevieve received much enjoyment and pleasure in visiting the shut-ins in the nursing home, particularly at Christmas time.

Genevieve and Wilbert did some traveling throughout the United States and on December 20, 2001, he passed away at the age of 83 years. Genevieve was able to continue living in their home and when discussing her health was thankful "she could get up and get about".

On Wednesday evening, June 3, 2009, she passed away on arrival at the Pella Regional Health Center having recently celebrated her 90th birthday.

Those who will cherish her memory are her four children and their spouses and their families. They are: David and Darlene (Conn) Vande Lune of Pella, Iowa; Norma and Gilbert Christensen of Altoona, Iowa; Ronald and Kris Vande Lune of Pella, Iowa;and Rick Place of Pella, Iowa. Of her original family Genevieve leaves her sister-in-law, Betty (Egbert) Drewes of Wadsworth, Ohio; and the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Frances (Vande Lune) Van Haaften, Marvin and Mary Lou Vande Lune, Shirley (Vande Lune) and Joe Schutte and Esther (Leonard) Vande Lune all of Pella, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbert; a granddaughter, Dana Vande Lune in 1982; her parents, Andrew and Tina Drewes; her parents-in-law, William and Lena Vander Wiel Vande Lune; her two brothers: Henry Drewes and his wife, Trina and Egbert Drewes; and the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Gertrude (Vande Lune) and Gert Van Dyke, Ruth (Vande Lune) and Merle Kallemyn, Ernest Van Haaften and Leonard Vande Lune.

Genevieve was a member of the Covenant Reformed Church in Pella at the time of her death. She enjoyed keeping track of her family in photo albums and the greatest gift she gave them was the training they received by being raised in a Christian home. There was no place like "home sweet home".

Interment: Black Oak Cemetery at Pella

Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home