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