VANDERLINDEN, Jackie (1936-2019)

VANDERLINDEN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 11/21/2019 at 00:33:10

Jacqueline VanderLinden
(February 7, 1936 - October 12, 2019)

JACQUELINE “JACKIE” VANDER LINDEN
Jacqueline Jo “Jackie” Vander Linden, 83, of Indianola, Iowa, passed away Saturday, October 12, 2019, at the Village Care Center in Indianola, following complications from illness.
Jackie was born to Charles M. and Vaeniece (Graham) Pyfer in Leon, Iowa, on February 7, 1936, during the memorable winter blizzard of that year. She attended Central Decatur schools, where she played basketball and golf, swam on the swim team, and led the high school marching band as its majorette. As a youth, Jackie worked many weekends behind the counter serving up breakfast and lunch in the small café at the front of her father’s grocery store and worked summers as a lifeguard at the city pool.
After graduation from high school, Jackie followed her older brother Chuck to Simpson College, where she majored in physical education and was a member Pi Beta Phi sorority. While a student at Simpson, Jackie did her student teaching in Indianola schools and spent her summers as a Y-Camp counselor in Boone.
It was also at Simpson that Jackie met Jack Vander Linden, the love of her life. Jackie and Jack wed on June 10, 1956, and Jackie graduated from Simpson two years later, a member of the class of 1958. Simpson was a family tradition, as her mother Vaeniece graduated in the class of 1927.
After graduation and newly married, Jackie accepted a physical education teaching position with Indianola schools, alternating between Whittier and Irving elementary schools. Jackie coached girls basketball and managed concessions for Indianola home football games, in addition to being a busy mother of three boys. She was also a quiet supporter of Title IX funding to expand access for girls who wanted to play sports. In her later career life, with an eye for style, Jackie worked as an interior decorator with JC Penney and as a sales associate with Dickinson’s clothing store in Des Moines. Jackie also worked as a licensed realtor.
Jackie was a member of Simpson Guild and chapter BP of PEO, where she stayed connected with many of her friends and colleagues. An avid golfer, Jackie loved Wednesday afternoon Ladies’ Day at the country club with her playing partners and enjoyed the dinners they shared afterward. In her retirement years, she and Jack established a second winter home in Georgetown, Texas, so that they could extend the golf season and be closer to visit her Texas grandchildren, but Jackie was always ready to come back to Iowa for spring and summers here. Back home, Jackie particularly cherished her time with her dear friends who met weekly at the appointed hour for morning coffee and for Thursday lunches.
Jackie is lovingly remembered by her husband Jack Vander Linden, married 63 years; sons Lance (Shari) Vander Linden, of Dallas, Texas, Brad (Teresa) Vander Linden, of Indianola, and Eric (Susan) Vander Linden, of Des Moines; grandchildren Jack (Kayla), Haley, and Owen Vander Linden of Dallas, Avie and Douglas Vander Linden of Indianola, and Britton and Marissa Vander Linden of Des Moines; brother Dr. Charles M. Pyfer (Kathy), of Eugene, Oregon; cousin Donogene Mealie of Kansas City, Missouri; and beloved brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. Jackie was preceded in death by her parents.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, at the First United Methodist Church, Indianola, preceded by a visitation from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the church. Lunch will be served following the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Indianola Kiya Koda Humane Society. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/