On July 19, 1930, a daughter, Albertha Joan Ver Meer, was born to Anthony D. and Dena Kloosterman Ver Meer at Mercy Hospital in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She would be the first born of six children. Albertha attended the Pella Christian Grade School in Pella, Iowa through the 8th grade. She then stayed at home to help take care of her siblings while working for other people. She did their washing and ironing, cleaned their homes and also worked at her father's Phillips 66 gas station. She worked at her Uncle Dick Ver Meer's meat market and eventually took a job at Van's Grocery Store.
On February 22, 1950, Albertha was united in marriage with Elmer Vernon Newendorp, an only son of Charles and Carrie Vroom Newendorp, at the home of her parents on Lincoln Street in Pella. They then moved to the Newendorp family farm 6 miles east of Pella, which is now on Cordova Avenue. To this union three children were born: Vernon Lee on January 11, 1951, Karen Joan on March 21, 1953 and Larry Dean on September 25, 1954. Albertha and Elmer remained on his parent's home place all their married life.
During the early years of their marriage, Albertha lived and learned the life of being a farmer's wife and mother. After their children were in school, she worked various jobs outside of the home including Boomsma's Produce, T & D Department Store, Hilltop Manor, Central College and Heritage Lace in Pella, retiring in 1999. Through the years she also held volunteer positions as a 4-H leader, with the Pella Athletic Booster Club, and at the snack bar in the Pella Community Hospital. She spent many hours organizing Tulip Time lunches and soup suppers at the First Reformed Church.
On August 28, 1974, a tragic automobile accident took the lives of both of their sons, Vernon Lee at the age of 22 years and Larry Dean at the age of 19 years.
After sharing life's experiences and 46 years of marriage together, Albertha lost her husband unexpectedly to a silent heart attack at their home on March 22, 1996, at the age of 66 years. Albertha stayed living on the farm for two more years and then moved into Westview Apartments in Pella in December of 1998. She maintained an active life while living at Westview Apartments until the fall of 2005 when she was diagnosed with mild dementia, resulting in a move to Fair Haven East. After a short stay there her illness progressed very rapidly to severe Alzheimer's resulting in another move to the Long Term Care Unit at the Pella Regional Health Center. On August 22, 2006, she was transferred to Jefferson Place in Pella where she was cared for the remainder of her life. She passed away there late Thursday evening, September 4, 2008, at the age of 78 years, one month and 15days.
Family left to cherish Albertha's memory are her daughter, Karen Newendorp-Bishop and her husband, George (Skip) Bishop of Pella; a grandson, Larry Vernon Newendorp and his wife, Traci, three great-grandchildren: Zachary, Riley and Taylor all of Knoxville, Iowa; her brother, Marvin Ver Meer and his wife, Brenda Sue of Harvey, Iowa; her sister, Deloras Graff of Rutland, South Dakota; a step-brother, Robert Spencer and his wife, Karen, of Pella; a step-sister, Linda Van Kooten and her husband, Al, of Iowa Falls, Iowa; her brother-in-law, Peter (Gladys Ver Meer) Van Soelen of Killduff, Iowa; her sister-in-law, Betty (Gerald) Ver Meer of Knoxville; a sister-in-law, Edith (Newendorp) Van Gorp of Pella; and many nieces and nephews.
Albertha was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Vernon Newendorp; her two sons: Vernon Lee and Larry Dean Newendorp; her mother, Dena (Kloosterman) Ver Meer; her father, Anthony D. (Tone) Ver Meer; her step-mother, Nellie S. (Booy-Spencer) Ver Meer; a brother who died in infancy; her sister, Gladys (Peter) Van Soelen; her brother, Gerald D. (Skeeter) Ver Meer; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gerald and Leona (Newendorp) Meppelink; a brother-in-law, Edward ( Edith Newendorp) Van Gorp and a niece, Denise Graff.
Among the many things Albertha will long be remembered for are her cooking and baking skills and for being the kind, quiet person she was. Through the years Albertha enjoyed many different activities with her family and friends. One of the things she thoroughly enjoyed was listening to music. Albertha became a member of the First Reformed Church in Pella soon after her marriage where she remained a faithful member. She helped with Sunday School and Family Night when her children were young. In later years she was very active with the Ladies Aid and in Circle.
Anyone wishing to remember Albertha with a memorial contribution may do so for The Alzheimer's Association, Hospice of Pella or the First Reformed Church of Pella.
Van Dyk- Duven Funeral Home
Gladys Delena Ver Meer, a daughter of Anthony D. and Dena Kloostermann Ver Meer, was born on November 21, 1931 in Pella. She attended the Pella Christian Grade School and was baptized and made profession of her faith at the Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella.
As a young girl, Gladys was employed at several places while living in Pella. She worked at Fowler Telephone Company, Van's Grocery Store and the J. C. Penney Store as well as others previously. On December 14, 1956 she was united in marriage with Peter Cornelius Van Soelen at Pella and to this union four children were born: Michael Peter, Kenneth Dean, Carol Diane, and James Allen. Pete and Gladie spent the first year of their marriage in Pella and then moved to the Sully/Killduff area. They spent 42 years together farming and trucking in this area.
During this time, Gladie worked at the Sully Cafe in Sully and assisted with the care of Mrs. Tim Zegers at Killduff. She was always willing to do something for someone else. Then in 1989 at the age of 57 years, she succumbed to surgery following diagnosis of an inoperable brain tumor. The resulting affects left her impaired and since May of 1993 she was been cared for at the Nelson Manor Nursing Home in Newton. She passed away there on Saturday evening, April 24, 1999 at the age of 67 years, 5 months , 3 days.
Her family endured her long, lingering illness with a great deal of devotion and dedication. They are: her faithful husband, Peter C. Van Soelen of Killduff; her four children and their spouses and ten grandchildren: Michael P. and Marlene Van Soelen of Sully, Brent Michael, Bryan James and Andrew Jay; Kenneth D. and Lorie Van Soelen of Sully, Kyle Dean, Hilary Jo, and Brooke Nicole; Carol D. and Tim Merical of Grinnell. Nicholas Carl and Nathan Alan; James A. and Ruth Van Soelen of Sully, Maria Diane and Amber Delena.
Of her original family, Gladys leaves all her sisters and brothers: Albertha Newendorp of Pella; Marvin L. Ver Meer and wife, Brenda Sue of Sunrise Beach, MO; Gerald "Skeeter" Ver Meer and his wife, Betty of Pella; Delores Graff of Pella; her step-mother, Nellie S. (Booy Spencer) Ver Meer of Pella; a step-brother, Robert Spencer and his wife, Karen of Pella; a step-sister, Linda Van Kooten and her husband, Alvin of Iowa Falls.
Gladys was preceded in death by her parents; her mother, Dena who died at the age of 51 years in 1960 and her father, Tone who died in 1990; and a brother who died in infancy.
Gladys became a member of the Sully Christian Reformed Church in Sully soon after her marriage where she belonged to the Ruth Circle and was a member of the Ladies Ensemble. She had also been an active member of the Sully Christian School Circle at Sully and the Kellogg Garden Club at Kellogg. Gladie's grandchildren were her pride and joy; and her family remembers her for her cooking and baking skills and the enjoyment she found in raising flowers.
The Diamond Trail News, April 28, 1999
Deloras M. Graff, age 73, of Rutland, died Monday, July 16, 2012, at her residence. Memorial Services will be 2:00 PM Friday, July 20th, at Grace Lutheran Church, Nunda. Private burial will precede the service at Prairie Queen Cemetery, rural Nunda. The family will be present for visitation 5 - 8 PM Thursday at Ellsworth Funeral Home.
Deloras Mae Ver Meer was born Sept. 23, 1938, at Pella, IA, to Anthony D. and Dena (Klosterman) Ver Meer. She attended Christian grade school to 8th Grade and then began working at the family café, The Dutch Inn, in Pella. Deloras married Doug Graff and they moved to Rutland, where she owned and operated Dutch Inn Grocery Store & Café. She later cooked at Rutland School for many years. She was a stay-at-home mom to four kids and later worked for Bob's Café in Wentworth. Deloras moved back to Pella and cooked at the Pella Hospital. When she returned to Rutland, she cooked at the Nunda Bar & Grill and retired in 2007.
Deloras loved spending time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed watching baseball games and listening to the radio. She hardly ever missed a baseball game and even watched some reruns! Her biggest hobbies were putting together puzzles and baking goodies. She enjoyed morning and afternoon coffee time in Nunda. Deloras was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid in Nunda.
Family left to cherish Deloras' memory are one son, Don Graff of Rutland; three daughters, Debra White of Sioux Falls, Donna (Donald) Mette of Wentworth and Darlene "Pete" Eich of Chester; 13 grandchildren, Matt (Sonja) Mette, Jessica (Wade) Klinkhammer, Brandon (Heather) White, Samantha (Brett) Bauman, Heidi & Brian Graff, Chris White, Casey & Ashley Mette, Kelsey, Kaylie & Kaleb Eich and Kenna Brown; four great grandchildren, Taylor, Paislee, Khloie and Alexis; one brother Marvin (Brenda) Ver Meer of Harvey, IA; one step-brother Robert (Karen) Spencer of Pella, IA; one step-sister Linda (Al) Van Kooten of Iowa Falls, IA.
Deloras was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter Denise; her step-mother Nellie Ver Meer; a brother in infancy; two sisters, Gladys Van Soelen and Albertha Newendorp, one brother Gerald "Skeeter" Ver Meer; one step-brother Gerald Meppelink; and two nephews Vernon Lee Newendorp & Larry Dean Newendorp.
Printed on the Ellsworth Funeral Home website July 2012
