Van Diepen, Julia M. (Mrs. Thomas "Dooley") 1911-2010

VANDIEPEN, SCHROEDER, HEITRITTER

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke --Volunteer
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

Source: Sioux County Index (4-7-2010)

Born: December 2, 1911
Died: March 31, 2010

Julia M. Van Diepen, 98, the daughter of Fredrick “Fritz” and Martha (Schroeder) Heitritter, was born December 2, 1911 on a farm Northwest of Boyden. Julia was baptized in January 1912 at St. John Lutheran Church, Boyden, and was later confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hull. She attended country school near Boyden and graduated from the Boyden High School in 1933, she received her teaching certificate from the Buena Vista College in Storm Lake. Julia taught in Lyon County Country Schools for five years.

On March 16, 1936, she was united in marriage to Thomas J. “Dooley” Van Diepen in Sheldon. After their marriage the couple made their home in Boyden. In 1957, they moved to Garden City, California, where she was a Charter Member of the Ascension Lutheran Church. She was the president of the Churches Altar Guild for many years and had taught Sunday School for 14 years.

Julia was an Avon salesperson for seven years and also volunteered her time at the Lutheran Thrift Shop and at the Palm Harbor Hospital for eight years. Julia and Tom moved back to Boyden in 1979 and enjoyed spending their winters in Florida.

Tom preceded her in death on October 14, 1988 in Sheldon. Julia continued to live in Boyden until she moved into the Christian Retirement Home in Sheldon in January of 2001. She passed away on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at the George Community Good Samaritan Center in George, reaching the age of 98 years, 3 months and 29 days.

She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Boyden. She loved crafts and reading and enjoyed golfing with her friends at the Otter Valley Golf Course near Boyden.

Left to cherish her memory are her two granddaughters, Sondra and her husband, Jim Hembd of Boyden and Rhonda and her husband, Jay Vahle of Minneapolis, Minnesota; two grandsons, Joshua and Cody Meendering; a sister, Elsie Baerenwald of Jasper, Minnesota; and other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, a son, Thomas, Jr. and a daughter and son-in-law, Clleon and Wayne Stueven; three grandsons, Tom, James and Michael; her parents; a sister Verna Baerenwald and three brothers, Jack, Arthur and Lewis.