Van Zante, Corlena (Vander Wilt) 1906-2001

VAN ZANTE, VANDER WILT, GROENENBOOM

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/8/2005 at 22:19:09

PELLA - Corlena Van Zante, 95, of Pella, died Friday, Nov. 23, in the Inn Care Unit of Pella Regional Health Center.

Her funeral service was held this morning, Nov. 26, at Faith Community Church in Eddyville, the Rev. Kenneth A. Dykstra officiating, the Rev. Michael L. Kuhn assisting. Burial: Highland Cemetery, Eddyville. Memorials: Faith Community Church, Eddyville. Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella is in charge of arrangements.

Corlena Vander Wilt was born June 4, 1906, near Pella to Dirk and Barbara Groenenboom Vander Wilt. She graduated from Eddyville High School. She earned her teaching certificate from Central College in Pella, then taught rural grade schools for several years.

On Feb. 1, 1941, she married Harold John Van Zante at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. She continued teaching in Bayard, Hedrick and Ottumwa. In August 1942, Harold was inducted into the United States Army and they moved to New Mexico. Following his discharge in February 1946, they moved to Ottumwa. Corlena completed her college education at Drake University in Des Moines and then taught part-time.

They moved to Pella in 1986 after Harold's retirement. Corlena moved to Hilltop Manor North in 1995 while Harold was in the Long Term Care Unit of Pella Regional Health Center. He died Oct. 25, 1997. Corlena moved to PRHC's Inn Care in October 2001. She was a lifelong member of Faith Community Church in Eddyville. She enjoyed teaching Sunday school, music and doing women's ministry. She enjoyed nature and caring for others.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law: Ruth Ann and Michael Lee Kuhn of Pella; her granddaughter, Melissa Ann Kuhn of Pella; her grandson, Timothy Harold Lee Kuhn, studying at the University of Indiana in Bloomington, Ind.; two sisters, a brother and sister-in-law: Henrietta (Raymond) Bouma, Barbara Dieleman and husband Raymond, Dick and Helen Vander Wilt, all of Pella; two other sisters-in-law: Wilma (John) Vander Wilt of Ottumwa and Mary (Lawrence) Van Zante of Ozark, Mo.; and nine nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; two sisters: Jennie (Chris) Den Hartog and Nellie (Charlie) Visscher; and three brothers: Bastian, Bert and John Vander Wilt.

The Oskaloosa Herald, November 26, 2001