Nellie Ver Beek
Nellie Ver Beek
Oskaloosa. Nellie Ver Beek, 99, of Montezuma formerly of Oskaloosa, died Tuesday, January 11, 2011, at the Montezuma Nursing and Rehab Center in Montezuma. She was born March 9, 1911, in Mahaska County, the third oldest in a family of twelve children born to Arie and May Veerman Van Zee. She attended country school and graduated from the eighth grade. Nellie was not able to go to high school because she lived in the country; there were no busses and she was unable to afford a car. Nellie worked for the Nelson farm and a few other places until her marriage to William G. Ver Beek on February 23, 1933. Together they started farming on their own. Nellie raised chickens and milked cows and helped with other farm work. She always had a big garden and did a lot of canning. She enjoyed reading and sewing. Being with her family and helping on the farm were her main focuses in life. She was a member of the Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa.
Her family includes her three daughters: Marjorie (& Bill) Rempp of Montezuma, Rosemary Hartschen of Newton, and Carolyne (& Gary) Blom of Grinnell; six grandchildren: Denise Harlan, Kevin (& Terri) Rempp, Diane Hartschen, Debra (& Scott) Dobesh, Michelle (& Don) Ryan, and Mike (& Lisa) Huff; eleven great greandchildren: Matt Harlan, Eric Harlan, Stephanie Sheckles, Heather Ellis, Drew Rempp, Cade Dobesh, Maddie Dobesh, Kelly Ryan, Kristie Ryan, Ashlyn Huff, and Alayna Huff; five great great grandchildren; two sisters: Artie (& Harold) Fick of Calender, Iowa, and Mildred Van Zee of Oskaloosa.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters: Annie Van Wyhe and Hattie Heil; five brothers: Herman, Paul, Moze, Mike, and Glen Van Zee; and a son in law: Wray Hartschen.
Funeral services for Nellie Ver Beek will be held Friday, January 14, 2011, at 2 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with Reverend Dennis Dorsheimer officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Thursday morning after 11 at the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa. The family will be at the funeral chapel on Friday from 1p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa.
Source: Bates Funeral Chapel
