Roberta "Bobbie" Irene (Olson) Van Houweling (1921-2017)
VAN HOUWELING, OLSON, ALBACH, HURD
Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 1/6/2018 at 08:17:46
Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.
Roberta "Bobbie" Irene Van Houweling, an Ames, Iowa resident, died peacefully at Green Hills Health Care Center in Ames. Funeral services will be held at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 1416 20th St., in Ames at 10:30 a.m. Sat., Dec. 16, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Graveside service will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Porter Grove Cemetery, 1209 246th Place, rural Pella, Iowa.
Bobbie was an only child born of the late Axel Walfred and Irene Bertha (Albach) Olson, on November 6, 1921 in Kansas City, Missouri. Bobbie spent her childhood in Kansas City and began her college career at Lindenwood College for Women, after which she transferred to Iowa State University. Bobbie was a member of Chi Omega Sorority and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics, specializing in Nutrition. She initially worked as a dietician for Hallmark Cafeteria. While in college at Iowa State, she met her future husband, Cornelius Donald Van Houweling who from Pella. They were married Sept. 12, 1942 and had celebrated 69 years together in marriage when Don passed away in 2012.
Her life was full as she became a devoted mother to four sons and a daughter over the next 15 years. Constant attentiveness to her family and her husband filled most of her time. However, she found time to volunteer serving the needy and young in every community they lived. Bobbie loved working with children and served in HEADSTART and other community preschool programs. She also served as a Sunday school teacher and Christian Educational Director in her faith communities. She was a dedicated leader for many years in Bible Study Fellowship, finding that rewarding and inspiring as she learned and taught about God’s word in greater depth. Bobbie had a deep and vibrant faith that radiated in all her kind words and generous actions. Children's voices always made her smile!
Her final years were spent as a resident of Green Hills Health Care Center. She will be dearly missed by her sons and their wives, Douglas and Andrea (Parks), Don and Terry (Larson), Bruce and Laura (Vredenberg) and Dirk and Judi (Hertzberg); and her daughter, Susan Hurd. She was blessed with 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, who will miss her as well.
Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents, Axel and Irene; her husband, Don; her son-in-law, Scott Hurd; and a great-grandson, Kolbe Scott Hurd.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: CD Van Houweling Trust, tagged "Memorial". Donations will be sent to various charities Don and Bobbie supported.
Adams Funeral Home in Ames is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and photos may be shared at www.adamssoderstrum.com © 2017 Soderstrum Reimers Inc.
http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
Story Obituaries maintained by Mark Christian.
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