Iola Mae Walinga, age 83, of Boyden, passed away on Friday, November 1, 2013 at the Sanford Sioux Falls Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. Her services will be Monday, November 4, 2013 at 10:30 am at United Presbyterian Church in Boyden, with Verlyn Netten officiating. Burial will be in the Sheridan Township Cemetery in Boyden.
Visitation will be Sunday, November 3, 2013 after 4:00 pm with the family present from 4:00 – 7:00 pm at the United Presbyterian Church in Boyden, Iowa.
Online memorial condolences may be sent to: vanderploegfunerals.com
The Vander Ploeg Funeral Home of Boyden is in charge of the arrangements for 83-year old Iola Walinga of Boyden.
Iola Mae Walinga, of Boyden, passed away peacefully on November 1, 2013 at the age of 83 years, five months and 17 days after a lengthy illness.
She was born in Boyden, Iowa on May 15, 1930, to Willard (Slim) and Rose (Shaffer) Horn, graduated from Boyden and received a teaching certificate from Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa. She was married to Clarence (Ed) Edward Walinga in Boyden, Iowa on November 27 1953. Olie always had a great work ethic, serving as a hired girl at the age of seven and helping with her younger sister, Normie, and chores around the house. After high school and graduation from Westmar, she taught school in a one-room schoolhouse south of Boyden. She played ball with her students at recess and prided herself in the fact that she never had to keep a student after school. After Olie and Ed were married, they lived in North Dakota and farmed for four years. Other jobs she had included egg candler at Boyden Produce, cream tester at the Boyden Creamery and meat handler at Packerland. She also helped on the family farm; with the family business, Walinga Water, Sand and Gravel Company; and later managed and cooked at Ed’s Café in Sheldon where people loved her plate-sized pancake with an egg on top. After a fire destroyed Ed’s Café, she went to work at Dunner’s in Sheldon. All this in addition to being a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
But Olie was not all work and no play. She was known regionally for her fast-pitch softball pitching prowess — winning many awards and trouncing the Kansas City Skeletts in a famous game held on Saturday, August 9th, 1952. She loved softball and baseball, cheering on her own kids as well as the Twins and Cubs. Enjoying the opportunity to see several professional games in person after retirement. In addition, Olie enjoyed dancing with her husband, fishing at Lake Shetek and bowling. She also sponsored an Ed’s Café bowling team for many years. More recently, she enjoyed being a member of the Boyden Belles Red Hats and joining them on their many outings.
A faithful Christian, Olie attended the Boyden United Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by three sons and two daughters and their spouses: Bruce and Karen Walinga of Ontario, CA; Brad and Tracy Walinga of Alta Loma, CA; Bevin and Rhonda Walinga of Weston, NE; Beth and Bob Sutton of Boyden, IA; and Becky and Chris Ellis of Des Moines, IA. Nine grandchildren: Jennifer, Justin, Amber, Andrew; Jayme, Julie, Jodie, Caleb and Charlie. Nine great grandchildren: Kylie, Landon, Eli, Travis, Miles, Olivia, Owen, Adisyn and Breckon.
Iola was preceded in death by her husband; a great granddaughter, Lorelei Beatrice; her parents and a sister, Norma Kosters.
