VandeWeerd, Anna Mrs. Robert 1932-2010

VANDEWEERD, KROEZE, VANGELDER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/9/2010 at 00:29:23

Anna Vande Weerd
February 9, 1932 - August 23, 2010
Mrs. Anna Vande Weerd, age 78, of Pella, formerly of Rock Valley, passed away on Monday, August 23, 2010, at the Pella Regional Health Center.

There will be a funeral service on Friday, August 27, at 10:00am, at the First Reformed Church in Rock Valley. The Rev. Dr. Michael Van Hamersveld will officiate. Interment will follow at the Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley. Visitation will be after 5:30pm on Thursday, with the family present from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, at the church. Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

Anna Pearl Van was born on February 9, 1932 in Orange City, the daughter of Dick and Nellie (Kroeze) Van Gelder. She was raised at Orange City, where she attended the Christian Grade School and graduated in 1950 from the High School. She then attended Northwestern College in Orange City to obtain her teaching degree. For several years, she taught in elementary schools at Calumet, Sutherland, and Alton.

Soon after graduating from college, she met Robert J. Vande Weerd at the Sioux Center Roller Rink, and they were united in marriage on June 19, 1957, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Orange City. Bob and Ann made their home in Rock Valley, where they were blessed with two sons, Samuel and Thomas. She spent her time as a homemaker, while the boys were young. Later she returned to teaching at River Valley School in RockValley, a part of Area Education Agency 4, where she worked with mentally and physically challenged children.

In spite of a forty year battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ann still enjoyed teaching, gardening, baking for her family , especially her grandchildren, visiting antique shops with Bob, and spending time with her dog, Abby. Recently, in 2009, Bob and Ann relocated to Pella, to be nearer to family. Early on Monday morning, she suffered a severe stroke and went to be with her Heavenly Father.

She is survived by her husband of more than 53 years; two sons and their wives, Sam and Jill (Van Zee), of Pella; and Tom and Tami (Hass), of Cedar Rapids; five grandchildren, Bailey, Zachary, and Ross, of Pella; and Kiley and Colin, of Cedar Rapids; a sister, Betty Brown, of Spencer; a brother and his wife, Gerben and Jan Van Gelder, of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Spirit Lake; a sister-in-law, Eleanor Van Gelder, of Alton; a brother-in-law and his wife, Norm and Esther Gunnink, of Boone; and numerous nephews and nieces.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Reynold Van Gelder; two sisters and their husbands, Marjorie and John Swets and Etta and Wally Zwagerman; a brother-in-law, Gene Brown; and her parents-in-law, Bert and Mary Vande Weerd.
Source: Oolman Funeral Home obit.