Vera Lucille Van Wyngarden
Vera Lucille Van Wyngarden
January 29, 1915 – November 12, 2010
Visitation: 2:00 to 8:00 Monday and where the family will be present from 6:00 to 8:00 Monday evening November 15, 2010 at Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell
Funeral Service: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday November 16, 2010 at Calvary Baptist Church, Grinnell
Interment: following funeral service November 16, 2010 at Hazelwood Cemetery, Grinnell
Vera Van Wyngarden, 95, of Grinnell died November 12, 2010, at Friendship Manor in Grinnell. Funeral services are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 16, at the Calvary Baptist Church in Grinnell with Pastor Don Johnston officiating. Organist will be Teresa Thompson and vocalist Shelly Johnston. Pallbearers will be Doug Cottrell, Kevin McAlexander, Greg, Jeremy and Travis Muckler, and Lonnie Walker. Honorary bearers will be Dalton, Paige and Wendy Cottrell and Tammy Wakeley. Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 8:00 Monday at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell and where the family will be present from 6:00 to 8:00 Monday evening. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Calvary Baptist Church or Grinnell Regional Hospice.
Vera was born January 29, 1915, on a farm north of Brooklyn, in Poweshiek County, Iowa, the daughter of Alfred and Pearl Workman Wahner. As a child she moved with her family to Kansas and returned to the Grinnell area several years later. She received her education in the Grinnell School District.
On August 6, 1938, she was united in marriage to Cliff Van Wyngarden, in Grinnell where the couple continued to make their home. She was employed for 9 years as a receptionist for Dr. Brooker and then was employed for 25 years as a sales clerk of Sanders Variety Store. She later worked as a sales clerk at Pamida Discount Store and retired in 1982. She was a 70 year member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Grinnell where she taught Sunday school for 35 years and was active with Awana.
Vera was considered strong-willed, passionate, caring and kind-hearted and held an immense love for her family and her faith. She loved fishing, including in the Grinnell area, Minnesota and Canada, listening to books on tape, crocheting and quilting. Many of her quilts have been donated to various missionaries.
Survivors include her daughter, Judy (Chuck) Wakeley of Malcom; one sister, Shirley Harrelson of Montezuma; two granddaughters, Tammy Wakeley of Marengo and Wendy (Doug) Cottrell of Malcom; two great-grandchildren, Paige and Dalton Cottrell; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; one son, Larry Van Wyngarden; two sisters, Dorothy Fleener and Verna Harbin; and two brothers, Richard and Alfred Wahner.
Source: Smith Funeral Homes
