Aalbers, Lenita M. 1913-2004

AALBERS, DEGUES, UITERMARKT, GAULEY, LOGUE, MARTINSEN, ALMEIDA, TYREE, SELLE, PINNEY, KOEHN, WARNER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 9/20/2014 at 15:46:26

The Montezuma (IA) Republican
June 2, 2004

LENITA M. AALBERS, 91

Lenita Marguerite Aalbers, 91, of Montezuma, died Saturday, May 22, 2004, at her home in Montezuma.

Her funeral service, a Celebration of Life, was Thursday, May 27, at the First Presbyterian Church, Montezuma, with the Rev. George M. Salnave officiating. Interment was at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella.

Casket bearers were Darrell Brand, Lew Lundy, Harold Wheeler, Verlan Uitermarkt, Kenny Uitermarkt and Melvin Uitermarkt.

Honorary casket bearers were Orlan Uitermarkt, Steve Audas, Ron Coleman, Floyd Little, Waldo Vannoy and Marvin Bunnell.

Lenita was born March 4, 1914, at Leighton, in Mahaska County, the daughter of Eva (DeGues) and Julius Uitermarkt. She attended Centennial School in Leighton and graduated from Pella High School. She received her B.A. degree from William Penn College on May 27, 1963, and received an additional 18 hours at Drake University. On Dec. 27, 1933, she was united in marriage with Gradus Dan Aalbers at Pella. To this union, six children were born. She had a great love for her family and God. Lenita loved children and teaching. She taught 10 years in rural school and 21 years as a sixth grade teacher at Montezuma. She continued to tutor children until she was 89. She liked reading and loved poetry, especially Helen Steiner Rice and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. She also enjoyed gardening, traveling, camping and going to Elderhostel. Lenita was and elder and a deacon of the First Presbyterian Church, and a member of Presbyterian Women. She faithfully attended Sunday school and church, and helped with preschool and enjoyed the birthday clubs. She was also very patriotic and always flew the U.S. and Iowa flags.

Honoring Lenita's memory are her family: three children, Duane (Darlene) Aalbers of Grapevine, Wash.; LaNeva (Kenneth) Gauley of Montezuma; and Sandra Logue of Napa, Calif.; 12 grandchildren, Debbie (Bob) Martinsen, Doug (Linda) Aalbers, Darcie (John) Almeida, Steven (Julie) Aalbers, Nancy (Darrin) Tyree, Dennis (Pam) Aalbers, Laurie (Dennis) Selle, Cynthia (Sid) Pinney, Curtis (Suzanne) Gauley, Kyle (Jill) Gauley, Lynette (Dave) Koehn and Leah (Jon) Warner; 22 great-grandchildren; and other relatives and many friends.

A memorial has been established in Mrs. Aalbers' name for the First Presbyterian Church or for childrens books at the Montezuma Public Library.