Branderhorst, Mildred M. (Harvey)

BRANDERHORST, HARVEY, ZEIGLER

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/21/2005 at 17:01:59

Funeral services for Mildred M. Branderhorst, 96, of Pella were held September 14, at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, the Rev. Marvin J. Leese officiated and Mr. Will Van Der Molen, remembrances. Music was provided by organist Mrs. Kathy Branderhorst Noteboom, soloist Crysttelle Kelderman, and a medley sung by Carol Houk, Larry Rozenboom and Wayne Rozenboom.

Interment was at the Bethel Cemetery in Tracy. Casket bearers were Jason Van Der Molen, Will Van Der Molen, Jesse Van Der Molen, Lane Van Der Molen, Cody Van Der Molen (great-grandsons) and Juan Munoz (great-grandson-in-law). Honorary bearers were Sgt. Robert Van Der Molen, Brian Jackson, Dan Van Donselaar and Larry Kelderman.

Mildred Margaret Harvey was the first child born to Ernest Wilbur and Mable Claire Zeigler Harvey, born October 23, 1905. Mildred attended grade school at a country grade school near Harvey named Clay Center. Later the family moved to a farm near Tracy where she attended Tracy High School. Mildred graduated from there with the class of 1924 and then attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa.

On December 31, 1927 she was united in marriage with William Maurice Branderhorst at Tracy and to this union two children were born: Mabel Marie on December 10, 1928 and Wilbur Maurice on September 13, 1933 who only lived a few hours. Bill and Mildred managed the Alloway Dairy Farm at Newton for ten years following their marriage. Then they bought a farm at rural Knoxville and lived there for thirty years. After selling the farm they bought an acreage near Oskaloosa.

It was while living here that her husband Bill of 49 years passed away on April 2, 1976 during a grass clearing fire. Mildred resided at Hilltop Manor South in Pella for seven years. At the time of her death she was residing at the home of her granddaughter Sonja and her husband, Juan Munoz in Pella. Mildred passed away Wednesday afternoon, September 11, at the Pella Regional Health Center where she had been a patient for three and 1/2 weeks. Mildred attained the advanced age of 96 years, 10 months and 28 days and longed to be with her Lord. At the time of her death she was a member of the Bethel Christian Reformed Church at Oskaloosa.

She is survived by her daughter, Mabel M. Van Der Molen of Pella; one grandson, Roger William Van Der Molen and his wife, Jean of Oskaloosa; thirteen great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Of her late husband's original family, she leaves just a sister-in-law, Hendreen (Lambert) Branderhorst of Oskaloosa and one brother-in-law, Rev. Elco (Cora Branderhorst) Oostendorp of Jenison, Michigan. She leaves many nieces and nephews and a host of friends and her "adopted family" Gerald and Kathryn Kelderman and their children and grandchildren of Boulder, Colorado. Mildred was the last surviving member of her original family.

She was preceded in death by her parents: her father, Ernest W. Harvey on October 20, 1960 and her mother Mabel C. Ziegler Harvey on November 3, 1971; and her younger brother, Marvin Merle Harvey on March 4, 1988 and his wife, Hazel (Miers) Harvey on December 25, 1991. Besides her late husband, Bill, who passed away on April 2, 1976 at the age of 78; her son-in-law, Louis M. "Lup" Van Der Molen on January 11 , 1992 at the age of 64 years; and her two youngest grandsons: Richard Wayne "Rick" Van Der Molen on August 28, 1997 at the age of 44 years and Robert Lee "Bob" Van Der Molen on January 11, 2001 at the age of just 45 years.

Arrangements were handled by Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Bethel Bible Hour (formerly the Lydia Society) of the Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Oskaloosa or the Gideon's Living Memorial Bible Plan.

The Pella Chronicle, September 23, 2002