Rus, Hilda (Van Maaren) 1919-2014

RUS, VAN MAAREN, BOENDER, DYKSTRA, VAN HAALEN, VANDER VLEKKERT, VANDE HAAR, VAN ZOMEREN, BAKKER, DE COOK

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 6/28/2015 at 07:10:19

Hilda Van Maaren was the fourth of ten children that were born to Gerrit Cornelius and Sarah Boender Van Maaren. She was born on November 2, 1919, near Pella, Iowa. Hilda was baptized as an infant at the Presbyterian Church in Monroe, Iowa. She attended various country schools in Jasper County near Monroe and completed the 8th grade. Hilly, as she was known, was working in Pella for the Rev. Gerrit Menning family when she met Arthur John Rus at church. They were united in marriage at her parents’ home near Newton, Iowa on March 19, 1942. Together they farmed northeast of Pella for two years before moving to a farm just east of Pella. Their home was a frequent gathering place for family and friends and Hilly always made sure there was coffee time ready. She was a hardworking homemaker, with a large garden, chickens and geese. She raised hundreds of broiler chickens for folks in the area to serve for Sunday dinner. She, along with her mother and sisters spent many hours together working on quilts in the winter.

Art and Hilly retired from farming in 1980 and together enjoyed golfing and traveling. Hilly also enjoyed sewing and crocheting charity items for various needs. Hilly had made profession of her faith at the Third Reformed Church in 1948 and joined the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella along with her husband, Art, following their marriage. They later became charter members of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church, and thought it was a joy to do that. Art passed away unexpectedly April 8, 1988. Hilly remained active as a volunteer for the Pella Community Hospital Auxiliary and the Fair Haven Auxiliary. She was a faithful member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church and enjoyed working with the societies.

For the past six years Hilda had been a resident in the Long Term Care Unit at the Pella Regional Health Center. She passed away on Sunday afternoon, May 4, 2014, at The Cottages in Pella at the age of 94 years.

Hilda is survived by her youngest brother, Alfred Van Maaren and his wife, Carolyn, two brothers-in-law: Henry Dykstra and Donald Van Haalen all of Pella; and several nieces and nephews, whom she considered as her children.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Art; her parents, Gerrit and Sarah Van Maaren; five brothers and their wives: Cornelius and Nellie Van Maaren, Paul and Nellie Van Maaren, John and Helen Van Maaren, Gerald and Jean Van Maaren, Elmer and Anna Van Maaren; and her three sisters: Esther Dykstra, Sara Mae Van Maaren and Beulah Van Haalen. She was also preceded in death by her parents-in-law, John D. and Dora Vander Vlekkert Rus; and the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Ann (Everett) Vande Haar, Kay (Walter) Van Zomeren, Pearl (Frank) Bakker, Aletta (John O.) De Cook, Henry Rus and James Rus. Hilda wanted to be remembered as a friendly, caring person.

Funeral Services will be held on
Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at 11:00 a.m.
Calvary Christian Reformed Church, Pella, Iowa
Interment will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery at Pella, Iowa

Visitation will be Tuesday at Van Dyk- Duven Funeral Home

Memorial contributions in her memory may be designated for Rehoboth Christian Schools in Rehoboth, New Mexico. ~ Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home, Pella, Iowa 4 May 2014.