Vander Stoep, Harriet (Mrs. Clarence) 1935-2023

VANDERSTOEP, WISSINK, BRINKS

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/21/2023 at 12:31:18

Mrs. Harriet Vander Stoep, age 87, of Orange City, passed away on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at the Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Saturday, June 17, from 9:00am to 10:00am, at the Redeemer United Reformed Church in Orange City. There will be a funeral service on Saturday, at 10:30am, at the church with the Rev. Todd De Rooy officiating. Interment will follow the service at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. The Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City is in charge of arrangements.

Harriet Joan, the only daughter of Martin and Hattie (Wissink) Brinks, was born on July 7, 1935, on her parents’ farm near Middleburg. She grew up on the farm and attended the Hull Christian School and graduated from the Western Christian High School in Hull.

She was united in marriage to Clarence Vander Stoep on November 29, 1957, in Middleburg. They made their home in Orange City, where they raised their four children. Harriet worked as a clerk for the O&M Grocery in Orange City until 1976, when she began serving as the head cook at the Unity Christian High School in Orange City, where she remained until retiring in 2015. Clarence passed away on February 23, 2005, at their home in Orange City, after more than 47 years of marriage. In 2018, she moved to the Pioneer Memorial Home and later to the Landsmeer Ridge Retirement Community, both in Orange City. Since January of 2022, she has resided at the Prairie Ridge Care Center.

Mrs. Vander Stoep was a member of the Redeemer United Reformed Church in Orange City. She was also active in the Orange City Christian School’s Monica Society, using her passion for cooking to prepare food for numerous weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and other special events. Harriet was a participant in the local Red Hat Society, and was an avid Minnesota Twins baseball fan. She and Clarence enjoyed camping, especially at Cutty’s Campground in Spirit Lake, where, even after Clarence passed away, Harriet continued to camp by herself well into her late seventies. She had a knack for doing handwork, creating beautiful dishtowels for her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed playing games weekly with her friends, particularly Fast Track and Heartland Strategy.

Survivors include four children and their spouses, Carla and Jeris Vande Zandschulp, of Sioux Center; Brian and Karin Vander Stoep, of Orange City; Sheila and Jon Heie, of Sioux Center; and Judy and Dave Dorhout, of Hawarden; eleven grandchildren, Candice Pendergrass, and her significant other, Jared Rabe; Nichole, and her husband, Jake Boden; Jessica, and her husband, George Petcavage; Erica, and her husband, Nate De Weerd; Joshua Vander Stoep, and his wife, Stacia; Tanner Vander Stoep, and his wife, Josie; Stephanie, and her husband, Seth Te Grotenhuis; Lacey, and her husband, Alan Julius; Jamie, and her husband, Marcus Den Herder; Trevor Dorhout; and Quinton Dorhout, and his wife, Mindi; 24 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Henry Brinks and Marvin Brinks.

Memorials will be given to the Orange City Christian School.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.