Nellie Wyngarden
Nellie Wyngarden
Nellie Wyngarden
April 16, 1918 – May 29, 2016
Leighton, Iowa | Age 98
Nellie Wyngarden, 98, of Leighton, died Sunday, May 29, 2016, at the West Ridge Nursing and Rehab Center in Knoxville. She was born April 16, 1918, in the Netherlands, the daughter of William Dirk and Maria Vande Scheur Hol.
In July of 1920, Nellie’s family immigrated to America. They arrived at Ellis Island and took a train to Pella, where they settled. Nellie attended country school in Mahaska County. Following 8th grade she was at the top of her class, she did not have transportation to high school so she did not continue. She stayed home and helped care for her siblings. She also cleaned houses around Pella and Oskaloosa. Education was important to Nellie and she earned her G.E.D. at the age of 54.
On February 10, 1944, she was united in marriage to Elmer J. Wyngarden at Leighton; Elmer died May 24, 1990. Nellie cleaned homes for families in Oskaloosa and Mahaska County for many years, she retired when she turned 88 years old.
Nellie was an active member of Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa and the Ebenezer Reformed Church in Leighton, where she had been involved with ladies’ guilds, Sunday School, and Vacation Bible School. She was a talented quilter and seamstress and she was active with Mahaska Stitch and Quilt and the Iowa Quilters Guild. Nellie had served as a trustee for Scott Township in Mahaska County. She was a member of Faith Circle Kings Daughters, Central College Auxiliary, and a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
As a young girl she was involved with 4-H, and continued to be involved while her children were in clubs. Nellie looked forward to the Southern Iowa Fair every year, she delighted in collecting purple and blue ribbons for her “best of show” pies. She enjoyed gardening, baking, and sewing. She looked forward to spending time with her family, especially baking with her grandchildren.
Nellie is survived by her four children: Frances (& Glen) VanderHart of Knoxville, Janice (& Joseph) Crist of Paris, Missouri, John (& Vicky) Wyngarden of Fremont, and Don (& Raeann) Wyngarden of Grimes; nineteen grandchildren; thirty-one great grandchildren; three great-great grandsons; a son-in-law (Maxine’s widower) Jack Newport & his wife Julie of Lacey; a sister, Minnie Van Wyngarden of Pella; a brother-in-law, Herman Wyngarden of Pella; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, Nellie was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Maxine Newport; two sisters: Janet (& Elmer) Vander Beek, and Marie (& Bert) Beekhuizen; two brothers: Marion (& Anna) Hol, and Everet (& Cora) Hol; and brothers and sisters in law: Henry Van Wyngarden, Blanche Wyngarden, and Wilma (& Dale) Roorda.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. in the Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Jon Nelson and Mr. Jim Austin officiating.
A family prayer service will be at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday in the basement of the church.
Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin Tuesday after 1:00 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5:30 -7:30 Tuesday evening to greet friends and relatives.
Memorials may be made to the Activity Department at Homestead in Oskaloosa, Activity Department at West Ridge Nursing and Rehab. or Hospice of Central Iowa.
