Newendorp, Nelson C. 1905-2002

NEWENDORP, DE JONG, VANDER VELDE

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 3/5/2009 at 09:16:16

From: Sioux City Journal, November 14, 2002

LE MARS, Iowa -- Nelson C. Newendorp, 96, of Methodist Manor in Storm Lake, formerly of Le Mars, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002 at Methodist Manor.

A Celebration of Life Service will be 2 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Le Mars, with the Revs. Donna Newendorp and Jason Larson officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, with a Masonic service at 11:30 a.m., at Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars.

Nelson Christian Newendorp was born on Dec. 1, 1905 on a farm near Orange City, Iowa, the son of John and Julia Angeline (De Jong) Newendorp. He attended school in Orange City and Mankato (Minnesota) Commercial College.

On June 5, 1928, Nels and Myrtle Agnes Vander Velde were united in marriage at Emmetsburg, Iowa. The couple made their home in Orange City until they moved to Le Mars in July of 1936. Nels was employed in the marketing division of Amoco Corporation for 27 years. He later worked at Westmar College in Le Mars as an Associate Business Manager and an Associate in Development for 15 years. In 1988, Nels received an Honorary Doctorate from Westmar College.

Being extremely involved in civic leadership, Nels held many offices and board positions. He served as City Clerk, City Councilman, City Building Official, Hospital Trustee, served on the Board of Directors with Le Mars Developmental Corporation and Siouxland Council of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. He was awarded the "Citizen of the Year" in 1976 by the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce. Nels was a member and past president of Rotary International in Le Mars. He was also a member in Storm Lake and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. In recent years, he served on the state level with the Department of Elder Affairs and was overseer of many local programs.

Nels was a member of First United Methodist Church in Le Mars. He was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Floyd Masonic Lodge 537 (formerly Giblem Lodge 322), Scottish Rite Consistory, past commander of the commandry, and the Abu-Bekr Shrine.

He will be lovingly remembered by his daughter, Ruth Tucker and her husband, Dr. Charles Tucker, of Iowa City, Iowa; a son, Paul and his wife, Donna Newendorp, of Estes Park, Colo.; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a brother, Ken Newendorp of Williamsburg, Va.; and a sister, Gladys Dowma of Marshall, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Myrtle; two brothers, Robert and Vernon; and a great-grandson, Timothy Wilkinson.

Memorial may be directed to the Methodist Manor Foundation or the Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children.