VanWechel, Gwendolyn, Mrs. Kenneth L., 1910-2003

VANWECHEL, DENBESTE, BALKEMA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/28/2011 at 07:21:29

Gwendolyn Van Wechel
Nov. 28, 1910--July 1, 2003

ORANGE CITY--Gwendolyn Ruth Van Wechel, 92, Orange City, died Tuesday, July 1, at Heritage House Nursing Home in Orange City.
Services were Saturday, July 5, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City, with the Rev. Jonathan Opgenorth officiating. Burial was at West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City.

Gwendolyn Van Wechel, daughter of Fred and Katherine "Kate" (Balkema) Den Beste, was born Nov. 28, 1910, in Sioux Center. She was raised in Sioux Center, where she attended elementary school and graduated from high school in 1929. She then was employed at Brockee Studio and Balkema's Store. She married Kenneth Leon Van Wechel on Sept. 2, 1937, in Sioux Center. They made their home in Orange City. After serving two years in the U.S. Armed Forces, he purchased the bakery. They owned and operated the Self-Serve Grocery Store, which included the bakery, for several years. Mr. Van Wechel died April 17, 1966, in Orange City.

She moved to Sioux Center on June 9, 1976. She returned to Orange City to live at Pioneer Memorial Home on Feb. 1, 2002. She transferred to Heritage House on May 24, 2003. She was a member of Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center. She enjoyed embroidering, playing cards, solving word games, working jigsaw puzzles and watching sports on television.

Survivors include a daughter, Mary Sandbulte of Sioux Center; two sons, Paul Van Wechel of Orange City, and David and Shirley Van Wechel of Orange City; nine grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; a sister, Esther and Ronald Wiese of Manson; two nephews; and four nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Van Wechel; two sisters, Alice Den Beste and Mildred Jensen; and a niece, Virginia Jensen.
Memorials may be directed to Hospice.

Source: Northwest Iowa Review, July 12, 2003.