MEENDERING, ALBERT G. AND HARRIET (VAN ROEKEL)

Albert Gerrit Meendering was born January 18, 1923 in Springfield, South Dakota. His parents Gerrit and Grace Meendering, along with two brothers and two sisters moved to Doon, Iowa in 1930. In the year 1935 they moved to Sioux Center, and in 1939 moved one mile east of Sioux Center where farming was their occupation. Al went to high school one year and then had to stay home to help with the farming because his brother got married.

Harriet Van Roekel was born June 6, ,1926 at Sioux Center. Her parents ware Henry C. and Allie (Vander Ploeg) Van Roekel. She attended country school west of Sioux Center and graduated from high school in 1943, later graduating from Samuel's School of Cosmetology in Sioux City, Iowa. She owned her own beauty shop "Van's Beauty Shop" in Sioux Center where the Wesselink Insurance is located today.

The family consists of Shirley, Marlin and Keith. All grew up one mile east of Sioux Center and attended Sioux Center Community School. Shirley was born in 1947. After high school graduation she graduated from Northwestern College in Orange City and. then taught art in Lake Park, Iowa and Sioux Center. She felt the Lord's call to serve Him and went to Brazil as a missionary for one year. Then she attended Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan and is now a pastor in the United Methodist Church, serving a church in southeast Iowa.

Marlin was born in 1951. After high school graduation he attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK. He also felt the Lord's call and graduated from Western Theological Seminary. During college days he married Bonnie Stoel, from Edgerton, MN. They now have three children, Andrea, Tim and Steven. He served as a pastor in Reformed Churches in Hudsonville, MI, Denver, CO, and is now working on starting a new church in Eden Prairie, MN.

Keith was born in 1958. After his graduation from high school he attended Central College in Pella, IA, graduating with an organ major and a business minor. Today he manages a men's clothing and is a buyer for the store in Pella, IA. He also plays organ in various churches.

Many trips ware taken when the family was growing up, finding it to be very educational and a good source of entertainment.

Christmas is a highlight for this family and there is lots of run, but it is getting more difficult to get together because of the distance between the different family members.

by Harriet Meendering