VanderMeulen, Joan Mrs. Gerald 1940-2011

VANDERMEULEN, UITHOVEN, HEEMSKERK

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 12/28/2011 at 16:27:07

Joan Vander Meulen
Joan Vander Meulen, age 71, of Ocheyedan, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2011, at Port of Guatemala.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, December 24, 2011, at 10:30 A.M. at the Christian Reformed Church in Ocheyedan. Rev. Bill Van Der Heide officiating.
Burial in the Ocheyedan Township Cemetery in Ocheyedan, Iowa.
Joan Vander Meulen was born on April 2, 1940 in Doon, Iowa. She was the daughter of Solomon and Margaret (Uithoven) Heemskerk. She moved to Boyden, Iowa at a young age where she lived her youth and attended school.
She was united in marriage to Gerald Vander Meulen of Ocheyedan, Iowa on March 2, 1959 in Boyden. They lived and farmed around the Ocheyedan area. When Joan was younger, she worked at Alfs Manufacturing in Sheldon, Iowa and Cryogenics Plant in Hartley, Iowa. Later in life, she worked at Berkley Manufacturing in Spirit Lake, Iowa and Lakeview School and Home for the Handicapped in Worthington, Minnesota.
Joan was an active member of the Christian Reformed Church in Ocheyedan. Gerry and Joan were active members of the Christian Motorcycle Association.
Gerry and Joan loved to travel and took many trips by motorcycle. They enjoyed spending the winter in Arizona with their many friends.
Joan enjoyed Southern Gospel Music and working with arts and crafts. She recently made each of her eleven grandchildren a quilt to treasure.
Joan treasured her grandchildren and family. Her faith, family and friends were very important to her.
She passed away on Sunday morning, December 11, 2011, after a short illness, at the Port of Guatemala, while on a cruise with her husband and many friends.
Those left to cherish her memories are her husband of 52 years: Gerald Vander Muelen of Ocheyedan, IA; her children: Sandra and husband Brian Vande Hoef of Harris, IA, and their 4 children: Tania (Jon) Vander Kooi of Sioux Falls, SD, and their 2 sons: Logan and Kason, Troy (Sarah) Vande Hoef of Ocheyedan, IA, and their daughter: Brienna, Tamra (Josh) Huff of Sioux Falls, SD, and their son: Tayten, Tessa (Treven) Howard of Ocheyedan, IA; Donna Hanson of Ocheyedan, IA, and her 3 children: Scott Hanson of Ocheyedan, IA, Wesley Hanson of Spirit Lake, IA, and Savanna Hanson of Ocheyedan, IA; Doug and wife Laura Vander Meulen of Ocheyedan, IA, and their 4 children: Jenna (Ryan) Vander Veen of Ames, IA, and their daughter: Noelle, Dan Vander Meulen of Ocheyedan, IA, Rebeca Vander Meulen of Brookings, SD, Jon Vander Meulen of Ocheyedan IA; one brother: Marvin and wife LuEtta Heemskerk of Boyden, IA; one sister: Marian Zevenbergen of Sibley, IA, and many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother and sister-in-law: Wilbur "Bud" and Flossie Heemskerk; brother-in-law: Arthur Zevenbergen.
Source: Andringa Funeral Home, Sheldon, IA., obit.