Michelle Boender
Michelle Boender
Michelle Boender
June 16, 1977 – August 4, 2021
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 44
Michelle L. Boender, 44, of Oskaloosa, died Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. She was born June 16, 1977, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the daughter of Mark and Linda Lesher Drahos.
Michelle graduated from Oskaloosa High School with the class of 1995. Following high school, she worked at Casey’s in Oskaloosa.
On September 11, 1999, she was united in marriage to Matt Sparks. To this union two sons were born, James and Mattix. Their marriage started her journey as an Army Wife. The two of them lived in various cities across the United States including Texas and Kentucky. In September of 2013, they moved back to Oskaloosa. In 2015, Michelle and Matt divorced.
Michelle went back to work at Casey’s once settled back in Oskaloosa. She worked as the assistant manager at the Casey’s in University Park.
On October 1, 2016, she was united in marriage to Eric Boender in Oskaloosa. Eric died on October 16, 2020.
In 2018, she took a job at MidWestOne Bank in Oskaloosa. She worked there until recently when she went to work in customer service at Cargill.
Michelle had a love for photography, she took hours of classes to help her perfect her picture taking talents. She enjoyed cooking and baking, especially making meals with Eric and Christmas baking with her mom. She loved being a wife and mom, she enjoyed taking care of her home and family. She also enjoyed attending and being part of the congregation at Third Church in Pella.
Her family includes her son, Mattix Sparks of Oskaloosa; her mother, Linda Drahos of Oskaloosa; a brother, Tony Drahos of Oskaloosa; two stepsons, Peyton Boender and Owen McKinney; her mother-in-law, Sandy (& Jerry) Hughes of Oskaloosa; her-father-in-law, Dan (& Mindy) Boender of Oskaloosa; a brother-in-law, Chad (& Tonya) Boender of Knoxville; grandfather-in-law, William Vander Meyden of Oskaloosa; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eric Boender; a son, James Sparks; her father, Mark Drahos; and her grandparents.
Funeral services will be held Monday, August 9, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel with Pastor Phil DeBoef officiating.
As was Michelle’s wish her body will be cremated following the funeral and burial of her urn will be in the Forest Cemetery. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin Monday after 11 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5 p.m. until service time at 7 to greet friends and relatives.
Memorials may be made to her son Mattix Sparks.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Michelle Boender please visit the Bates Funeral Chapel Sympathy Store.
