VanZyl, Florence (Mrs. Ralph) 1917-2013

VANZYL, PLENDER, WIERSMA

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/11/2013 at 18:41:29

Florence Van Zyl
July 13, 1917 - February 4, 2013
Florence Van Zyl, age 95, of Orange City, Iowa, entered the presence of the Lord on Monday, February 4, 2013, at the Orange City Area Health System Hospital following a brief illness.

Florence was born on July 13, 1917 as the third child and only daughter of Gardie and Margaret (Plender) Wiersma. She grew up on her parents’ farm near Middleburg, Iowa, and attended a country school through the eighth grade. On January 16, 1941, she married Ralph Van Zyl of Newkirk, Iowa. They built a home in Newkirk where they lived for the majority of their 51 years together. Florence enjoyed being a homemaker, wife, and mother to two sons and one daughter. In her spare time, during her younger years she also had enjoyed reading, doing the daily crossword puzzle, playing cards with friends, and going fishing with her family. Florence was a faithful member of Newkirk Reformed Church in rural Hospers.

Following her husband’s retirement from trucking, the couple moved to a home in Orange City. Ralph died on August 4, 1992. In 2001, Florence moved to the Pioneer Home in Orange City and for the past 2 years had resided at the Heritage House Nursing Home, also in Orange City.

In addition to her husband, Florence was preceded in death by her parents, her three brothers, John, Lawrence, and Harvey, and their spouses, as well as her husband’s siblings, and a host of friends.

She is lovingly remembered by her children: Richard (and Sandy) Van Zyl from Grand Island, NE, Sharon (and Keith) Bateman from Bradenton, FL, and Lowell (and Patty) Van Zyl of Newkirk; six grandchildren: Michael Van Zyl from Houston, TX, Shanna (Nate) Kraai of Denver, CO, Kayla (Kyle) Williams from Nashville, TN, Laura Bateman from Sterling, KS, Kyle (Farah) Bateman from Fairfield, CA, and Joel Bateman of Los Angeles, CA; two great-grandchildren: Ryker Kraai and Ella Bateman; one brother-in-law Jake Dekker from Worthington, MN, many nieces and nephews, and very close friends, Bill and Winnie Anker and family (former Newkirk residents), from Lake Errock, British Columbia.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 9 at 11:00 a.m. at the Newkirk Reformed Church with the Rev. David Powers officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends after the service. Interment will be at the Newkirk Cemetery prior to the service. There will also be a prayer time beginning at 9:45 a.m. at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.
Source: Oolman Funeral Home, Orange City, IA., obit.