Mrs. Evelyn Van Leeuwen, age 86, of Hospers, passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2013, at the Orange City Area Health System Hospital.
There will be a funeral service on Saturday, January 4, at 10:30am, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Hospers. The Rev. Marvin Leese will officiate. Interment will follow at the Hospers Cemetery. Visitation will be after 4:00pm on Friday, with the family present from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Hospers.
Evelyn Pearl was preceded in death by her husband, Henry John Van Leeuwen; daughter, Linda Van Leeuwen; parents, Peter and Mary Swets; husband’s parents, Al and Agnes Van Leeuwen; and three sisters, Nell Vanden Berg, Wilma Mouw, and Kathryn Rensink.
Survivors include six children, Pat (Gordon) Bruxvoort, of Orange City; Barb (John) Van Vugt, of Hospers; Mary (Ron) Jansen, of Dorr, Michigan; Joel (Doris) Van Leeuwen, of North Liberty; Emily (Darwin) Boer, of Boyden; and Tom (Jodi) Van Leeuwen, of Hull.
This kind hearted grandmother is sadly missed by 23 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandson.
Also mourning are a sister, Della Mae Kreykes, of Sheldon; a brother-in-law, Bill Beltman, of Sheldon; and three sisters-in-law, Corky Van Leeuwen, of Jenison, Michigan; Joan (Andy) Miedema, of Orange City; and Betty Van Schepen, of Hull.
Born and raised on a dairy farm just outside of Hospers, Evelyn met John shortly after the end of World War II. They were married in 1948, making their home in Hospers for 54 years. Through the years, John and Evelyn were blessed with seven children.
Evelyn very much loved the people and town of Hospers and the Hospers Christian Reformed Church. She excelled in extending her own style of Iowa hospitality to many friends, acquaintances, and family members. She was known to have a quick wit and enjoyed sharing her signature jokes with her grandchildren. Evelyn enjoyed visiting and having coffee with the many friends and family who came to visit her around her kitchen table and later in the Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City.
Memorials are being directed to the Christian Education Fund at the Christian Reformed Church.
