Funeral services were held at the Bethel Reformed church last week Wednesday afternoon for Andrew Meendering, 47, who died suddenly Sunday morning, February 23, at his farm home northwest of Little Rock. The Rev. John Ailts officiated at family rites in the Vogelaar Funeral chapel and George and at the church service. Interment was in Hope cemetery at Hull.
Surviving are his wife, the former Ella Van Maanen; seven children, Marlene, Mrs. Harlan Stubbe of George; Gerald of Little Rock; Edward, Gladys, Audrey, Lucille and Eleanor, all at home. Also surviving is his mother, Mrs. Gerrit Meendering of Sioux Center, three brothers and four sisters.
Andrew Meendering was born at Springfield, South Dakota, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Meendering, and had lived on the farm near the Bethel Reformed church for nearly 30 years. Death was due to a heart condition.
Sioux County Index 1964-03-05.
Ella (Van Maanen) Meendering was born December 16, 1914 the daughter of Evert and Maggie (Mulder) Van Maanen on a farm two miles west of "Perkins Corner" in Sioux county, Iowa.
On February 21, 1939 Ella was united in marriage to Andrew Meendering at the home of Ella's parents near Perkins. Following their marriage Ella and Andrew farmed in the Doon, Lyon county, Iowa, area before moving to a farm north of George, also in Lyon county, Iowa where they farmed for many years.
During this time the family belonged to Bethel Reformed Church of rural Ellsworth, Minnesota. On February 23, 1964, just two days after celebrating their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, Andrew died. Ella continued living on the farm for a while and then in January of 1965 she moved into George. After moving to George, Ella became a member of Hope Reformed Church southwest of George.
Ella worked as a cook in the George school for several years. In her leisure time Ella, enjoyed playing cards, crocheting and knitting, and she became an accomplished seamstress-making bridesmaid and wedding dresses. She also liked the outdoors and fishing along the river where whatever she caught she cleaned and prepared for meals. Watching basketball was another pastime for Ella and she was an ever-present spectator at the George gymnasium. Her continued attendance and support of the basketball program was duly noted when she was awarded a special letter "G" as an honorary letter winner.
Having concern for others was a mainstay in Ella's life and for many years she volunteered at the Good Samaritan Center. This too was noticed, and she was honored in Des Moines and received the Governor's Volunteer Award. In 1997 Ella moved to Rock Rapids, Lyon county, Iowa and settled at Rosewood Heights Apartments and then a year later she became a resident of Good Samaritan Center in George. Last Thursday, May 2, 2002, Ella died at the Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital in Rock Rapids at the age of eighty-seven.
Surviving Ella are seven children and their spouses, Marlene (Harlyn) Stubbe of George, Gerald (Diann) Meendering of Storm Lake, Iowa, Ed (Leona) Meendering of Sibley, Iowa, Gladys (Dwight) Shaffer of George, Audrey (Conrad) DeNoble of Rock Rapids, Lucille (Wayne) Steenhoven and Eleanor (Alan) Julius all of George. Also surviving are fifteen grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren along with four brothers Bert, Tom and Harold Van Maanen all of Hull, Iowa, Ed Van Maanen of Doon, Iowa and three sisters Mina Hoekstra and Margaret Hoekstra both of Hull and Jane Hoksbergen of Boyden, Iowa.
Preceding Ella in death were her parents, husband, daughter Louella Ann, grandson Johnathan Ray Julius, great-granddaughter Kimberly Ann Stubbe and brother Roy Van Maanen.
Funeral services for Ella Meendering were held Saturday, May 4, 2002 at Hope Reformed Church of George, Iowa with interment at Hope Cemetery, Hull, Iowa
Edward Gerrit Meendering was born to Andrew and Ella (Van Maanen) Meendering on January 6, 1945 near Doon, Iowa. He attended Country School west of Little Rock and graduated from Little Rock High School in 1963. He was very active in drama and all sports while attending high school. He even tried out to play second base for the Minnesota Twins where he was coached by Billy Martin.
Following high school, he joined the Army National Guard and started working for contractors where he learned the trade of construction. Working for Mouw and Den Hartog in Sheldon, he learned all facets of construction from brick laying to finish work.
He married Leona Christians on Valentine’s Day of 1968. They lived near Sheldon for a few short months until his National Guard Unit was activated and sent to Fort Carson, Colorado. Leona joined Ed a couple months later. While stationed in Colorado Ed & Leona were blessed with a son, Edward Lee. Ed never received orders for Viet Nam but spent eighteen months in Colorado Springs serving his country.
Ed & Leona moved back to Northwest Iowa where he returned to construction and then farmed for two years north of Sibley. In 1973, they were blessed with a daughter Michelle Lynn. Ed began his own construction business in 1973. During his 38 years of Meendering Construction he built more than 60 homes, two churches and numerous remodeling projects including two major church remodels. He loved his job and he especially enjoyed working alongside church members as they worked together building a house for the Lord.
He enjoyed fishing and hunting, especially the three elk hunts in New Mexico with his son. He loved woodworking and made many furniture pieces for friends and family. Some of his favorites were the barns for the grandsons, desk for his granddaughter, cribs and changing tables for his kids. Ed always appreciated a challenge and was a perfectionist when it came to building. He and his wife enjoyed trips to Branson with friends and traveling to the Smokey Mountains with family. They spent many Saturday nights square dancing and made lifelong friends. He loved going to the Black Hills and spending time at the lakes with his kids and grandchildren. His favorite part was experiencing new adventures with his grandchildren and taking them tubing and fishing. Ed was proud of his family and especially his four grandchildren.
He served as a Sunday School teacher, Deacon, Elder, and involved with a couples Bible Study at First Reformed Church in Sibley. He was also very active in the Passion Play for more than 30 years. Ed used his construction talents to serve the Lord on two mission trips on Native American reservations.
He leaves to mourn his wife, Leona, son, Edward and wife Allyson, daughter, Michelle and husband Trevor Tomkins, four grandchildren, Kyan and Kaden Tomkins, Edward Logan and Paige Meendering, five sisters and one brother: Marlene Stubbe of George, Gerald (Diann) of Aurelia, Gladys (Dwight) Shaffer of George, Audrey (Conrad) DeNoble of Rock Rapids, Lucille (Wayne) Steenhoven of George and Eleanor (Alan) Julius of George. Also, many nieces and nephews as well as in laws.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew & Ella Meendering, one sister, Louella, his parents in law, Ben and Mildred Christians.
Jurrens Funeral Home
Sibley, Iowa