Van Zee, Oreta T. – 1916-2010

BLACKLEDGE, TINKER, VAN ZEE

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 10/18/2010 at 14:01:11

Oreta T. (Blackledge) Van Zee, 94, of Pella, died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010 at the Long Term Care Unit at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella.
Funeral services were held today at Trinity Reformed Church in Pella. Burial was at the Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. Memorials may be given for the Trinity Reformed Church or Hospice of Pella, Iowa.
Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella was in charge of arrangements.
Source: Newton Daily News; Monday, October 11, 2010

Additional information from Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home website:
Oreta Thayne Blackledge was the third of five children that were born to Melvin Eugene and Olive Floy Oldham Blackledge. She was born on a farm near Monroe, Iowa on September 3, 1916. Being the only daughter, Oreta was the apple of her Dad's eye and admitted being "spoiled" by her two older brothers, Gerald, Elmo, and then younger brother, Duane.
Oreta began her schooling at a country grade school in Jasper County, Iowa and then at the age of 10, her parents moved the family to Phoenix, Arizona making the trip in three Model A Ford's. She then completed her academics and graduated from Phoenix Union High School. One of her memories of high school in Arizona was the incorporation of Native American children into the schools. Oreta sang in the high school choir and the church choir and began teaching Sunday School and Bible school.
Oreta's father was introduced to his future son-in-law, Gerrit Alfred Van Zee, after finding him sleeping under their porch with his puppy at 3 years of age. Oreta's father walked him home to his parents, Anthony and Effie Kuiken Van Zee. The families continued their friendship and on September 20,1936, Oreta and Gerrit were married at the home of her parents near Monroe. They then moved to Michigan and having little money, they considered the trip a honeymoon and shared a candy bar on the way which was a special treat! They both worked in factories for two years, Oreta working during the day and Gerrit working the night shift.
They then moved back to Iowa and to this union four children were born: Dennis Allen, Jean Yvonne, James Arvin and Vicki Lynn who was stillborn in 1951. They farmed near Harvey, Iowa for a short while and then Gerrit began his trucking career. Oreta missed him while he was gone during the week, but she was a capable mom who raised and trained their children with love and discipline. Being a homemaker and mother was Oreta's most important responsibility while she also found time to work at In't Veld's Meat Market and do cleaning at Central College. Oreta was good with her hands and did a lot of embroidery, crocheting and sewing.
The Methodist Church denomination was Oreta's background of faith and her great-grandfather was the minister who founded the Monroe Tool's Chapel.
Sadness came into Oreta'a life when a granddaughter, Gail Reiman, died in a traffic accident in 1989 at the age of 29 years, her son, Dennis, passed away on October 24, 1993, at the age of 54 years, and her husband, Gerrit, passed away on July 8, 1995, 4 days prior to his 79th birthday. Through all this grief and suffering, Oreta remained a positive, happy and content person. She found contentment in whatever circumstance she found herself and since August, 2006, had been a resident in the Long Term Care Unit at the Pella Regional Health Center. Oreta went into the presence of the Lord there with her daughter, Jean and granddaughter, Heather by her side on Wednesday, October 6, 2010, having just observed her 94th birthday.
Those who will cherish her memory are a daughter and son and their spouses, a daughter-in-law, 7 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren (with 2 more great-grandchildren arriving in 2011). They and their families are: Jean and Merwyn Tinker of Des Moines, Iowa,Bryan Tinker,Heather and Joseph Jones,Austin, Adria, Alexa, Alivia, Akian, Ayden, Anden, Arik, Alijah, Andru, Ayson;James and Nedra Van Zee of Statesville, North Carolina,Judson and Bianca Van Zee,Elesha Van Zee;Paula (Dennis) Van Zee of Lakeland, Florida,Bradley and Laura Van Zee, Bralyn,Douglas and Malissa Van Zee,Mary, Caleb, Ashley, Christopher, Carol and Hector Martinez,Jasmine, Cierra. Oreta was the last surviving member of her original family and leaves just one sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Faye (Van Zee) and Joe Horpestad of Des Moines, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerrit; a daughter, Vicky Lynn and her son, Dennis A. Van Zee; two grandchildren: a grandson, Brian Van Zee who was stillborn in 1961 and Gail ( Tinker ) Reiman; her parents, Melvin and Olive Blackledge; her four brothers and their wives: Wayne Blackledge who died in infancy, Gerald and Freda Blackledge, Elmo and Jeanette Blackledge, Duane and Jeanne Blackledge; her parents-in-law, Anthony and Effie Van Zee; and the following sisters-in-law and brother-in-law: Ruth (Van Zee) Miedema, Shirley (Van Zee) and Jerry Valster.