Small Town News

Anna Vande Weerd, 78

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Mrs. Anna Vande Weerd, age 78, of Pella, formerly of Rock Valley, passed away on Monday, August 23, 2010, at the Pella Regional Health Center.

There will be a funeral service on Friday, August 27, at 10:00am, at the First Re form ed Church in

Rock Valley. The Rev. Dr. Michael Van Hamersveld will officiate. Interment will follow at the Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley. Visitation will be after 5:30pm on Thursday, with the family present from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, at the church. Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

Anna Pearl Van Gelder was born on February 9, 1932 in Orange City, the daughter of Dick and Nellie (Kroeze) Van Gelder. She was raised at Orange City, where she attended the Christian Grade School and graduated in 1950 from the High School. She then attended Northwestern College in Orange City to obtain her teaching degree. For several years, she taught in elementary schools at Calumet, Sutherland, and Alton.

Soon after graduating from college, she met Robert J. Vande Weerd at the Sioux Center Roller Rink, and they were united in marriage on June 19, 1957, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Orange City. Bob and Ann made their home in Rock Valley, where they were blessed with two sons, Samuel and Thomas. She spent her time as a homemaker, while the boys were young. Later she returned to teaching at River Valley School in Rock Valley, a part of Area Education Agency 4, where she worked with mentally and physically challenged children.

In spite of a forty year battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ann still enjoyed teaching, gardening, baking for her family, especially her grandchildren, visiting antique shops with Bob, and spending time with her dog, Abby. Recently, in 2009, Bob and

Ann relocated to Pella, to be nearer to family. Early on Monday morning, she suffered a severe stroke and went to be with her Heavenly Father.

She is survived by her husband of more than 53 years; two sons and their wives, Sam and Jill (Van Zee), of Pella; and Tom and Tami (Hass), of Cedar Rapids; five grandchildren, Bailey, Zachary, and Ross, of Pella; and Kiley and Colin, of Cedar Rapids; a sister, Betty Brown, of Spencer; a brother and his wife, Gerben and Jan Van Gelder, of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Spirit Lake; a sister-in-law, Eleanor Van Gelder, of Alton; a brother-in-law and his wife, Norm and Esther Gunnink, of Boone; and numerous nephews and nieces.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Reynold Van Gelder; two sisters and their husbands, Marjorie and John Swets and Etta and Wally Zwagerman; a brother-in-law, Gene Brown; and her parents-in-law, Bert and Mary Vande Weerd.

Memorials will be directed to Hope Haven in Rock Valley.

You may express your sympathy at www.oolman.com



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© 2011 Sioux County Index-Reporter Hull, Iowa. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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