Van Arkel, Antoinette (Monster)

VAN ARKEL, MONSTER, HOEKSTRA, VANDER LINDEN

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/18/2005 at 20:56:03

Funeral services for Antoinette Van Arkel, 86, of Pella, who died Saturday, August 23, in Pella, were held Tuesday, August 26, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Rev. Harvey Brink officiated. Organist Leona Ver Meer and soloist Ivan Mulder provided music.

Casketbearers were Henry Van Arkel, Sherwin Van Kooten, David Bruxvoort, Chris Prendergast, Charles Darnell, and Allen Jingst. Honorary Bearers Steven Vriesman, Troy Howell, and Brad Stawick.

Internment was at the Oakwood Cemetary in Pella.

Antoinette Monster was born on January 13, 1917 in Marion County near Pella, Iowa. She was the first of five children that were born to William J. and Hattie Hoekstra Monster. As a young girl, she made her home with her parents and was actively involved in the daily chores and responsibilities.

On January 11, 1939 she was united in marriage with William Dick Vander Linden at the parsonage of the Third Reformed Church in Pella. To this union three children were born: Ruth Arlene who was born on May 15, 1940, Gerald Duane who was born on November 18, 1943 and Larry Gene who was born on September 19, 1947. Antoinette and William lived on a farm east of Pella until moving to a farm west of Oskaloosa, Iowa. They were living there when William passed away on July 19, 1950 at the young age of 34 years, leaving her with a family of three young children.

On July 29, 1977 she was united in marriage with Leonard M. Van Arkel at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. It was at this time that Antoinette moved from the farm and she and Leonard made their home together at 1015 Hazel Street in Pella. Antoinette continued working as a cook at the Webster Grade School in Pella and then retired in 1978. On July 22, 1981, Leonard passed away at the age of 72 years.

Following his death, Antoinette moved into her parent's home at 513 East First Street in Pella. She continued to reside there until February of 2001 when she became a resident at Fair Haven East. In June of this year, she became a resident in the Long Term Care Unit of the Pella Regional Health Center and on Saturday afternoon, August 23, 2003 she passed away in the Hospice Room.

Antoinette leaves to cherish her memory her three children and their spouses: Ruth A. and Ronald Van Kooten of Denver, Colorado; Gerald D. and Ruth (Den Besten) Vander Linden of Prairie City, Iowa (Annette Ruth Vander Linden); and Larry G. and Siegrid ( Pusch ) Vander Linden of Tracy, Iowa, as well as 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Antoinette leaves a step-son, Henry Lee Van Arkel and his wife, Leona, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; a step-daughter-in-law, Ruth (William) Bos of Louisville, Kentucky; ten step-grandchildren and 11 step-great-grandchildren. Of her original family, she leaves her two sisters: Mary (Max) Schuttinga of Prairie City, Iowa and Dorothy (Wilfred) Rempe of Pella, Iowa.

Antoinette was preceded in death by her two husbands, William D. Vander Linden and Leonard M. Van Arkel; two granddaughters: Annette Ruth Vander Linden who died in 1979 at the age of 15 years and Sharon Ballentine who died in 2001 at the age of 38 years; a step-son-in-law, William Bos; one step-great-grandson; her parents: William and Hattie Monster; her two brothers:Gerald Monster and Marion Monster; her sister-in-law, Rose (Marion) Monster; and two brothers-in-law: Max Schuttinga and Wilfred Rempe.

Since the time of her marriage she had been a faithful member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella where she had an active member of the Helping Hands Mission Society.

For those desiring, memorials may be designated for the Pella Christian High School or the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa.

The Pella Chronicle, August 30, 2003