Koele, Sandra Mrs. 1944-2013

KOELE, HIETMEYER, DYKSTRA

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg (email)
Date: 6/12/2013 at 10:14:56

Biography
Sandra Koele, age 69, of Hull died Friday, May 24, at Avera Mckennan Hospital and University Health center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, following a battle with cancer.

There will be a memorial service on Friday, May 31, at 10:30am, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Hull. The Rev. Loren Kotman will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the Hope Cemetery in Hull. There will be a prayer service on Friday, at 9:30am, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Hull.

Visitation will be after 4:00pm on Thursday, with the family present from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, at the funeral home.

“Sandy” Koele (Hietmeyer) was born on January 31, 1944, in Sheldon, the daughter of John and Tena (Dykstra). She grew up in Sheldon and attended Sheldon Christian Grade School, and later attended and graduated from Western Christian High School in Hull in1961.

After graduating she moved to Hull, but continued to work in Sheldon at the Western Belle Telephone Company, as a telephone operator with a promotion into the business office. She then worked and helped grow Koele Insurance in Hull for many years. She then transitioned into a homemaker, raising her children through adolescence. She finished her career path at Compass Pointe Behavioral Health Services in Hull, and the other offices in Northwest Iowa for seventeen years, retiring in September of 2012.

Sandy's faith in the Lord was strong. She spread the word of the Lord to everyone who wanted to listen or who touched her life. She was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church for forty-seven years. She was involved and led many Bible studies. Mission Guild was one of her favorite activities at the church, and she was saddend when she was not healthy enough to attend anymore. Outside of church, she lead two bible studies, Beginning Experience on Thursday nights and Starting over Single on Sunday nights, helping widowed or divorcees through the sadness or loss they just experienced.

When she was not working, she had a special love for children. While selling Modern Woodmen Life Insurance policies, she also led a Modern Woodman Junior Service Club for many years. Decorating floats and many other types of activities were planned for the children of Hull. She was also a foster mother to three little girls, whom she cherished with all her heart.

When she was not busy working or helping others, she spent time with her own children, who were most important, teaching them the word of the Lord and trying to guide them on the correct path of life. Being a caregiver for her son, Curt, through his illness and death took a lot of her free time, but she never regretted any of it, as shown through the love and care she always gave him. This love and teaching continued on when her grandchildren were born. She loved being a Grandma and taking care of or visiting them whenever possible.

Survivors include her son, Michael Jon Koele, and his fiance, Leann Lewis, of Hull and their four children, Christian Curtis Koele, Justin Michael Koele, Jayden Rolling, and Jessica Lewis; her daughter Jill Marie Koele, and her fiance Perry Siemonsma of Hull and their three daughters, Kirsten Faye Koele, Nicole Siemonsma, and Christine Siemonsma; three great-granchildren; two brothers and their wives, Sid and Renee Heitmeyer, of Garner; and Junior and Joan Heitmeyer, of Albert Lee, Minnesota; and two sisters, Alice Den Hartog; and Karen, and her husband, Dale Boer, all of Sheldon.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Curtis Ward Koele, in January of this year; a grandson, Dillon Hooyer; a brother-in-law, Willard Den Hartog; a sister-in-law, Jean Heitmeyer; and two young brothers, Hermie, one year old, and Johnny, a few days old.

Family Visitation Thursday May 30, 2013, 6:00pm - 8:00pm at Oolman Funeral Home - Hull
Oolman Funeral Home - Hull