Draayer, Arbelle "Belle" (Mrs. Kenneth Wayne)1942-2023

DRAAYER, BRUMMEL, KROESE

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-volunteer (email)
Date: 11/8/2023 at 13:34:46

Mrs. Arbelle “Belle” Draayer, age 81, of Hull, passed away on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at the Sanford Health Sheldon Care Center in Sheldon.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Tuesday, October 24, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Hull. There will be a memorial service on Wednesday, October 25, at 10:30am, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Hull with the Rev. Aaron Greydanus and the Rev. Timothy Ouwinga officiating.

Arbelle Jane was born on February 20, 1942, in Hull, the daughter of Ivan and Alberta (Brummel) Kroese. She was raised in the Middleburg and Hull area and attended the Hull Christian School. After graduating from the Western Christian High School in Hull, she earned her nursing degree from the St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Sioux City.

On April 6, 1962, she was united in marriage to Kenneth Wayne Draayer in Hull. They made their home in Lynden, Washington and Waupun, Wisconsin until 1969, when they returned to Hull. During their time in Lynden and Waupun, “Belle” worked as nurse. After returning to Hull, she worked as a nurse at the Pleasant Acres Care Center until starting as one of the first employees of the Foreign Candy Company in Hull, where she worked for more than 25 years. In December of 2020, she became a resident of the Sanford Health Sheldon Care Center.

Belle was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Hull and participated in the church’s Mission Guild. She enjoyed singing as part of the Sioux County Oratorio and was a member of the Faith Trio. She liked playing cards with friends, camping, and was able to travel extensively with Ken. Together they were able to vacation in numerous different countries and loved being able to spend time with their children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband of more than 61 years, Ken, of Hull; four children and their spouses, Dan and Mary Draayer, of Ankeny; Dean and Yang Draayer, of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Kris and Marty Vander Plaats, of Sioux Center; and Heather and Doug Vander Weide, of Savage, Minnesota; ten grandchildren, Adam Draayer, and his wife, Shannon; Hannah, and her husband, Tate Arends; Anton Draayer; Ava Draayer; Kyle Vander Plaats; Jacob Vander Plaats, and his wife, Emily; Michael Vander Plaats; Lauren Vander Plaats; Blake Vander Weide; and Alexa Vander Weide; four great-grandchildren; a sister, Johanna Ludema, of Ann Arbor; three sisters-in-law, Gladys De Weerd, of Inwood; Cynthia Kruid, of Sioux Center; and Agnes Kroese, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and a brother-in-law and his wife, Gary and Sandy Draayer, of Sioux Center.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Gerald Kroese, Albert I. Kroese, Hilmore Kroese, and Irvin Kroese; as well as seven of Ken’s siblings.

In lieu of flowers memorials are encouraged and will be given to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.