Van Engen, Brenda (Mrs. Doug) 1962-2018

VANENGEN, STATEMA, BURGGRAAF

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:32

Mrs. Brenda Van Engen, age 56, of Orange City, passed away on Saturday, October 27, 2018, at the Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City.

There will be a memorial service on Thursday, November 1, at 4:00pm, at the Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. Robert Drenten will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. There will be a prayer service on Thursday, at 3:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City. Reviewal will be on Thursday, prior to the prayer service, after 2:00pm, at the funeral home.

Visitation with the family will be on Thursday, following the memorial service, until 8:00pm, at the church.

Brenda Jean was born on March 27, 1962, in Rock Valley, the daughter of William and Geneva (Statema) Burggraaf. She was raised in Rock Valley, where she attended the Christian School. She graduated from the Western Christian High School in Hull, where she met her future husband, Douglas Gene Van Engen.

Doug and Brenda were united in marriage on September 11, 1981, at the Calvin Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley. They made their home in Rock Valley for two years before moving to Sioux Center. Their first home was at a small rental she fondly called "the mouse house", but it was the house on Third Avenue that they called home for the next fifteen years. Here they would raise their three children, where she did what she loved most - being a mother. She also held a few part time jobs over the years; she worked nights in the cash office at Wal-Mart, painted crafts for a friend, and made salads for the Towne House. The family attended the Faith Christian Reformed Church, where she participated in a Bible study with women who would become lifelong friends.

Eventually, the choice was made to move the family to Orange City, to be closer to the restaurant. This is where her daughters made their homes and had children. Brenda enjoyed reading, listening to music, baking, decorating, and researching the internet for the latest in baby gadgets, best vacation spots, and anything else you needed to know. But she enjoyed nothing more than going on walks with her daughters, doling out advice, and caring for her grandchildren. She was always the best gift giver and loved to make beautiful holiday treat bags for her grandkids.

In early 2015, Brenda began to feel ill and was eventually diagnosed with Corticobasal Syndrome. Doug and Brenda were able to enjoy a last trip to Florida and celebrate their 35th Wedding Anniversary with friends and family. As her disease progressed, however, the amount of care she needed grew. This is when scores of people entered her life and filled it, even as her world grew smaller. Members of the Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, Orange City Area Home Health and Hospice nurses/aides, volunteers, friends, and family all made this process bearable. Finally, on October 27, 2018, Brenda breathed her last, surrounded by the music and family she loved.

Survivors include her husband of more than 37 years, Doug; two daughters and a son, Larissa, and her husband, Joel Van Dyke; Danielle, and her husband, Dan Kuiken; and Dylan Van Engen, all of Orange City; five grandchildren, Connor, Brynn, and Will Van Dyke; and Jorgia and Huxley Kuiken; her parents, Bill and Geneva, of Rock Valley; her four siblings and their spouses, Les and Kim Burggraaf, of Rock Valley; Sharon and Paul De Groot, of St. Louis, Missouri; Audrey and Doug Broek, of Ireton; and Harlan and Sara Burggraaf, of Omaha, Nebraska; Doug’s three siblings and their spouses, Floyd and Mary Van Engen, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Bob and Jo Van Engen, of Valley Springs, South Dakota; and Marlys and Jay Vander Pol, of Redmond, Washington; and a sister-in-law, Jan Van Engen, of Willmar, Minnesota.

Preceding her in death are her parents-in-law, Harvey and Nell Van Engen; a brother in infancy, Rodney Alan Burggraaf; and a brother-in-law, Brian Van Engen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to aide in the adoption of Brenda’s grandson, Huxley Alan.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.