February 28, 1930 - October 6, 2018
Obituary for Joyce Long-Kelderman
Joyce Long-Kelderman, 88, of Oskaloosa, died Saturday, October 6, 2018, at her home in Oskaloosa. She was born February 28, 1930, in Newton, Iowa, the daughter of Nile and Sylvia McLead Sperry. In 1948, she was united in marriage to Russell Gravitt in Des Moines, Iowa. To this union two children were born Glenda and Allen. Russell and Joyce later divorced.
On May 23, 1953, she was united in marriage to Charles Long at Lancaster, Missouri. To this union four children were born, Charles, Joyce, David, and Jeff. Charles died on August 3, 1980. Joyce stayed home to care for her family and home. In addition to caring for her own children, she did in home daycare for many years.
On March 1, 1999, she was united in marriage to Robert Kelderman at Pella, Iowa. Robert died November 12, 2001. She enjoyed looking at and buying furniture, collecting antiques, and angel figurines. She was an active member of the Assembly of God Church in Oskaloosa and especially looked forward to the O.K. Bunch outings. She also enjoyed gardening, music, dancing, singing, camping, and playing cards. She delighted in having her family around and especially looked forward to family reunions.
Joyce is survived by her children, Glenda (Bill) Plowman of Muscatine, Charles (Nancy) Long of Barnett, Missouri, Joyce Swope of Louisburg, Missouri, and David Long of Oskaloosa; a daughter in law, Flo Long of Wright; twelve grandchildren; twenty-six great grandchildren, fifteen great great grandchildren; a sister in law, Dorothy Foster of Colfax; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her two husbands; two sons, Allen Gravitt and Jeff Long; a daughter in law, Nancy Gravitt; a son in law, Terry Swope; a granddaughter, Angel Gravitt; a grandson, Derick Long; a great great granddaughter, Kaylee Bishop; two sisters, Jennie Dougherty and Midge Gebheart; and two brothers, Glen Foster and Andrew Foster.
Funeral services for Joyce will be held Thursday, October 11, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the First Assembly of God Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Michael Dotson officiating. Burial will be in the Bellefountaine Cemetery near Tracy. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Wednesday morning after 11 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 Wednesday evening to greet friends and relatives.
Harold Laverne Kelderman, 80, of Oskaloosa passed away Thursday evening, April 3, 2003
at Mahaska Hospital in Oskaloosa, at the age of 80 years, 4 months.
Harold enjoyed religious and political dialogue and worked very hard in his community to
give voice to those that were not being heard.
Besides his commitment to being a supportive companion as husband, nurturing and
providing father and grandfather, he tirelessly defended the disadvantaged and reached
out to the lost.
Harold Laverne Kelderman was born on December 3rd, 1922 in Oskaloosa near Lake Keomah to Gerarda(Huge) and Peter T. Kelderman. His childhood was spent in Highland, IN and Lansing, IL. He graduated from Munster Christian Grade and Thornton Fractional High Schools. As a teenager, Harold's first job was with Federal Electric in Chicago. While working at Ottumwa Iron Works as a machinist, in 1943, he was drafted into the Army. He was discharged as a Sgt. from the parachute infantry. He then worked at Iowa Valve (now Clow) as a metal pattern maker, and farmed for one year near Lacey.
He was united in marriage to Elsie Marie Brink, February 12th, 1947 and lived to celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary. During his marriage, Harold, operated a building contracting business that ended with the "Phelps Estates" condominium in Oskaloosa. He also served 10 years as manager of the Sears Roebuck catalog office. He graduated from William Penn College and went on to serve as principal of the Randolph Christian School in WI, and then as Industrial Technology Instructor at Indian Hills Community College and Evans Jr. High in Ottumwa. He went on to enjoy 25 years as a Real Estate Broker and State Certified Appraiser. He also taught evening classes in Real Estate and Appraising at Indian Hills Community college. Harold served his community as Mayor of Oskaloosa from 1990 -1994. He went on to reunite hundreds of bios and adoptees with his private investigative agency.
He enjoyed his years in association with his church, the Jaycees, the DAV, the Board of Realtors and the Kiwanis Club. Besides his travels with his wife and children, he marveled in ham radio, electronics and piloting the 180 Cherokee and the Cessna 172 at the Oskaloosa Airport from 1968 to 1999. His work with the Civil Air patrol was a great joy .and recently served as Squadron MLO.
Mr. Kelderman is preceded in death by his father and mother, Peter and Gerarda Kelderman, two brothers, Robert and Richard, all of Oskaloosa.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Elsie, and their daughters; Nancy of Knoxville, IA; Mary of Madison, WI; their sons: Daniel and his wife, Shirley of Oskaloosa and Harold "Dennis" and his wife, MaryAnn of Wichita, KS; 10 grandchildren; three brothers and five sister in-laws: Melvin and Cobie Kelderman of Oskaloosa; Herman and Bernice; Lawrence and Marlene Kelderman all of Des Moines; and Anna & Joyce Kelderman of Oskaloosa; two sisters and brother in-law: Viola Groenenboom of Ottumwa and Helen White and her husband, Robert of Scottsdale, AZ; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Contributor: IAGeneology (48386852)
Anna Elizabeth KeldermanNovember 14, 1929 - February 10, 2022
Obituary for Anna Elizabeth Kelderman
Anna Kelderman, 92, of Oskaloosa, passed away Thursday, February 10, 2022, at the Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. Anna Elizabeth Kelderman was born November 14, 1929, at the rural Oskaloosa home of her parents. She was the 10th of 14 children born to William and Jennie (Bouma) Van Weelden. Growing up on a farm with a large family taught her the values of working hard and having a serving attitude to others. She had a very close bond with all her siblings through life and called them often as they lived into their senior years. She attended the Star Country School near her home then the Oskaloosa High School.
Anna married Richard Kelderman on November 18, 1948, at her parents' home in Oskaloosa. They made their home there, where she stayed home to raise their four children. Anna enjoyed serving her family and taking care of the household. She kept busy sewing, canning, and freezing garden produce as well as baking. Her fruit turnovers were a big hit in her kids' lunch boxes. She did various side jobs like hanging wallpaper with her sister Sylvia, and they enjoyed working together. Her first official job was on the first crew of Lil Duffer working the lunch hour. She later worked at Needle Woman Fabrics using her sewing skills.
In 1983 Anna and Richard moved to Mesa, AZ, and in 1999 they split their time between Mesa and Oskaloosa. While living in Arizona, they were members of the Christ Community Church in Chandler, where Anna was actively involved, including teaching Children's Church for many years. While residing in Oskaloosa, Anna was a member of the Bethel Christian Reformed Church, where she was active in the Ladies Bible Hour and other programs. In 2013 Anna returned to Oskaloosa to live full time and be closer to her children. She enjoyed playing cards with her family and friends and seeing her grandchildren. She always found time to visit loved ones in nursing homes.
Her family includes her children and their spouses: her sons: Richard "Rick" Kelderman of Oskaloosa, Vernon and Kris Kelderman of Kirkville, IA, and their children: Eric (Lisa) Kelderman, Erin (Kerby) Worley, and Ezra Kelderman; her daughters: Jean Chance of Oskaloosa and her children: Jodie Strommen and Jason (Michelle) Stout; and Karen and Chuck Converse of Oskaloosa and their children: Cole Converse, Courtney (David) Kalina and Conner Converse; seven great-grandchildren: Destinee Stout, Orrin, Aidan, and Asher Kelderman, Rebecca and Rachel Stout, Olivia Vega and one due by Courtney in July. Destinee is due in May with the first great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by her brother: Harold (Eileen) Van Weelden of Oskaloosa; and her sister, Frances (Les) Spoelstra of Redlands, CA.
In addition to her parents, Anna was preceded in death by her husband Richard of almost 54 years; a son-in-law, George Chance; and eleven siblings: John, Henry, Rev. James, William Jr., Ray, Peter and Ernie Van Weelden, Sylvia Kelderman, Dorothy DeRonde, Jean Boender and an infant brother.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 19, 2022, at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, with Rev. Doug Van Der Pol officiating. The burial will be in Forest Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., Friday, February 18, at Langkamp Funeral Chapel. The family will greet visitors from 4 -6:30 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to Oskaloosa Christian School.
