Wilma Irene Stam
Wilma Irene Stam
Wilma Irene Stam
March 22, 1925 – December 29, 2013
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 88
Wilma Stam passed away Sunday morning at the home of her son in rural Oskaloosa.
Wilma Irene Stam was born, March 22, 1925, at the home of her parents in Lake Prairie Township, south of Pella, Iowa to John and Susan “Susie” (Menninga) Kelderman. She was baptized in the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Wilma received her education in rural schools in Marion and Mahaska Counties.
As a young woman, Wilma was employed at Pella Corp., Continental Overall Factory, and Shurts Jack Sprat Grocery Store. Wilma made her Profession of Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and on January 18, 1946, she was united in marriage to Albert “Hap” Stam at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. They made their home on several farms throughout Mahaska County where they raised their five sons and enjoyed working together as a family.
Wilma loved life, and she enjoyed gardening, sewing, baking, and the many duties that came with being a farm wife. Although her family was always her first priority, she found time to volunteer for “The Back to God Hour” and the Gideons, including their jail ministry for women, as well as in the snack bar at Mahaska Health Partnership. In addition to her duties at home and her volunteer work, Wilma also found time for Bible Study and genealogy research.
In 1976, Wilma and Hap retired from farming and moved into Oskaloosa; during this time they enjoyed traveling to various places throughout the U.S. They were blessed with 59 years of marriage before Albert was called home, May 25, 2005.
Wilma’s family includes her five sons and their families: Calvin and Diane (Van Schepen) Stam of Oskaloosa and their children: Jennifer and Rick Fountain of Kirksville, MO, Nathaniel and Val Stam of Oskaloosa, Erin and Calvin Meinders of Pella, and Caleb and Leah Stam of Oskaloosa; John and Joyce (Solleveld) Stam of Oskaloosa and their children: Sylvia and Michael Van Arkel of Oskaloosa, Laura and Scott Carter of Des Moines, Ryan Stam of Oskaloosa, and Mark and Jennifer Stam of Istanbul, Turkey; Dennis and Kathy( Slager) Stam of Oskaloosa and their children: Eric Stam of Pella, Hollie and Justin Powell of St. Louis, MO, and April and Nick Toornstra of St. Louis, MO; Stephen and Sheryl (Galema) Stam of Oskaloosa and their children: Philip and Laura Stam of Pella, Joel and Dawn Stam of Pleasant Hill, Michelle Stam of Oskaloosa and John Stam of Oskaloosa; and Brent and Phyllis (Fynaardt) Stam, of Oskaloosa and their children: Emily and Brady Huffman of Redlands, CA, Andrew Stam of Chicago, IL and Elizabeth Stam of Iowa City; and 25 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Tunis and Joan Kelderman and two sisters-in-law: Shirley of Knoxville and Johanna VanderWiel of Pella.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Wilma was preceded in death by a brother, Elmer Kelderman and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Funeral services for Wilma will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, January 2, 2014, at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa with Rev. Leroy Christoffels of Worthington, MN.
A family prayer service will be held at 9:45 a.m. in the church fellowship hall prior to the service.
Burial will be in Forest Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., Wednesday at the Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will be present from 3-5 p.m. to greet visitors.
Memorials may be made to the Gideons.
