Obituaries

Area Funerals

Maggie Luitjens

Maggie Luitjens, age 90 of Ashton, IA died Monday, February 17, 2014 at Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, IA.

Funeral service will be 1:30 PM, Thursday, February 20, 2014 at Zoar Presbyterian Church rural George, IA, with Rev. Dale Lint officiating. Burial will follow in the Gilman Township Cemetery in Ashton, IA.

Visitation will be Wednesday, February 19th from 3:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 7:00 to 8:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Ashton, IA.

An online registry and full obituary will be available at: www.jurrensfuneralhome.com

Maggie Marie Luitjens was born May 17, 1923 in Sibley, IA to Henry and Lena (Norman) Kruger at her grandparents’ George and Maggie Kruger’s home. She married Arnold Luitjens April 6, 1945 at her parents’ home in Sibley. After graduation she worked at the ration board office in Sibley. Maggie and Arnold farmed together for 10 years on a farm just east of the home place. Then in 1955 they moved onto the family farm, which was named a Century Farm in 1991. They lived there together for 55 years raising their two sons. Arnold passed in 2010. Maggie continued to live on the farm. She devoted herself to her home and farm helping out as needed. She enjoyed garden work, canning, flowers, and cooking for family; especially the grandchildren, making their favorite foods. She enjoyed several wren houses to watch the birds. She really enjoyed Christmas season, cooking, baking, shopping and opening gifts with family after Christmas Eve church service. Maggie enjoyed going with Arnold to Brown Swiss meetings, sales and fairs. She enjoyed showing Brown Swiss at Clay County Fair for 64 years. Maggie was a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1945. She was also a charter member of Mariners Church group.

She is survived by two sons, Larry (Eileen) Luitjens and Leslie (Norma) Luitjens all of Ashton; 3 grandchildren, Stacy (Chris) Moore of Duncan, OK, Eric (Amanda) Luitjens of Burt, IA and Loren (Heather) Luitjens of Ashton IA; 3 great-grandchildren, Grace, Lyra and Lisa; sister, Joan Plehall; and many nieces and nephews.

Maggie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Arnold; granddaughter, Lora; sister, Darlene and brother in-law, Albert Buchholtz; brother-in-law, Paul T. Plehall; brother in law, Raymond Luitjens and wife Reka; sister-in-law, Alice and husband Norman Flink and other extended family members.

Ruth Mumford

Ruth Mumford, age 74, of Sheldon, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at Fieldcrest Assisted Living in Sheldon.

Funeral Services will be Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. at the Andringa Funeral Home Sheldon Funeral Service in Sheldon. Rev. Kevin Gingerich officiating.

Burial to follow at Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake, Iowa.

Visitation will be Tuesday, February 18, prior to the Funeral Service, from 9:00 to 9:45 A.M. at the Andringa Funeral Home Sheldon Funeral Service in Sheldon.

Ruth Mumford was born on February 5, 1940 in Storm Lake, Iowa. She was the daughter of Say and Lillian (Moorehead) Lenhart. She lived her youth on a farm near Storm Lake and attended a country school.

She was united in marriage to Herbert Lewis Mumford of Storm Lake on October 21, 1961. They lived in Storm Lake where Ruth was a homemaker. Herbert passed away on July 7, 1997. Ruthmoved to Spencer, Iowa and later to Sheldon, Iowa. She had cancer early in her marriage and was a cancer survivor.

She attended the United Methodist Church.

Ruth lived at Fieldcrest Assisted Living. She enjoyed a close relationship with her sisters and doing crafts, fixing picture puzzles and especially playing Yahtzee with family and friends.

She passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at Fieldcrest Assisted Living in Sheldon, Iowa.

Those left to cherish her memories are her son: Dale Lewis Mumford and fiancée Donna Warren of Sheldon, IA, five step grandchildren and 3 step great-grandchildren; two sisters: Doris and husband Marley Bratsch of New Ulm, MN, Audrey Stern and friend Harland of Babbitt, MN; one brother: Everett and wife Phyllis Lenhart of Hartley, IA.

She was preceded in death by her husband Herbert; her parents; four children: Robert LeeMumford, Patricia Kay Mumford, infant Mary Beth Mumford, infant Michael Lynn Mumford; brother Leonard Lenhart; brother-in-law Verle Stern.

Nancy A. Statema

Mrs. Nancy Statema, age 62, of Orange City, passed away on Thursday, February 13, 2014, at her residence.

 There will be a memorial service on Monday, February 17, at 11:00am, at the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. John Klompien will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Ireton. There will be a family prayer service on Monday, at 9:15am, at the church.

 Visitation with the family present will be on Sunday, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, at the church. Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

Nancy Ann was born on March 10, 1951, in Hawarden, the daughter of Martin and Angeline (White) Hamersma. She was raised at Hawarden, where she attended a Union County Country School and graduated from West Sioux High School.

On August 8, 1969, she married Peter Arlin Statema in Hawarden. They made their home in Orange City, where she was a homemaker. She was also employed at L & K Clothing, the Flower Cart, and Diamond Vogel Paint Company, all in Orange City.

Nancy was a member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church, where she and Pete were sponsors of the youth group for nine years. They were also active in Cursillo, and she enjoyed Bible studies.

She was an accomplished seamstress and assisted with costumes for the annual Orange City Tulip Festival queen and her court. She liked sewing, traveling, and playing games with friends and family, especially her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband of more than 44 years; five children and their spouses and nine grandchildren, Amy and Mark Rassel and Eric Eyer and Nicole and Kobe Rassel, of Orange City; Paul and Keri Statema and Whitnee and Brandon Statema, of Rock Valley; Sara and Chris Johnson and Elias Johnson, of Ottumwa; Gena and Josh Riphagen and Morgan and Owen Riphagen, of Milford; and Kyle and Alie Statema and Evan Statema, of Brandon, South Dakota; and a sister, Helen Sherrill, of Arvada, Colorado.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three infant grandchildren; a sister and her husband, Martha and Jerry Nielsen; a brother-in-law, George Sherrill; and a grand nephew, John Stanage.

Memorials will be directed to the Orange City Area Home Health and Hospice and the Sioux County Cancer Society in Orange City.

Ardis Ann McAlpine

83-year old Ardis Ann McAlpine of Omaha, formerly of Osceola County, passed away.

Funeral services will be Wednesday at 10:30 am at Mary Our Queen Catholic Church in Omaha, with burial at Resurrection Cemetery in Omaha.

Visitation is from 4:30 to 6:30 pm Tuesday, February 11th, with a Vigil Service at 6:30 pm, at the West Center Chapel in Omaha.

Ardis was born May 1, 1930 to John and Minnie Ackerman in Osceola County, Iowa.  She married Michael J. McAlpine on July 3, 1950.  She is survived by husband of 63 years; sons: Michael G. “Greg” (Linda), James (Judy), and Steven (Lisa); grandsons, Jacob and Jordan; granddaughter, Megan (Greg); great-grandchildren, Kaden and McKenzie. Preceded in death by parents and brother, Larry Ackerman.

Nancy Sanders

Nancy Sanders, age 97, of Sheldon, Iowa passed away on Monday, February 10, 2014 at Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon.

Private Family Funeral Services will be Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 11:30 A.M. at the Andringa Funeral Home Sheldon Funeral Service in Sheldon. Rev. Kevin Gingerich officiating. Burial to follow at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon.

Online Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to www.andringafuneralhome.com

The Andringa Funeral Home Sheldon Funeral Service of Sheldon in charge of arrangements for Nancy Sanders.

Nancy Sanders was born on September 30, 1916 in Sheldon, Iowa. She was the daughter of Bart and Mary (Reekers) Van Roekel. She lived her youth in rural Sheldon where she attended a country school.

She was united in marriage to Ervin LeRoy Sanders of Sibley, Iowa on February 16, 1942 in South Sioux City, Iowa. Nancy lived in Sheldon while Ervin was overseas in the Army Medical Corp. They lived in Maryland while Ervin was working at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC. Nancyworked at J.C. Penney in Sheldon and in Maryland. They retired in 1979. In 1986, they moved back to Sheldon, Iowa. Ervin passed away on February 16, 1995. Nancy enjoyed golfing and sewing. She was a baptized member of the First Reformed Church in Sheldon.

Nancy passed away on Monday, February 10, 2014 at Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon.

Those left to cherish her memories are one brother and sister-in-law: Abe and Dorothy Van Roekel of Sheldon, IA; two sisters: Geraldine Brower of Sheldon, IA, and Martha Oester of Mesa, AZ.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ervin Sanders; her parents; one sister Rena Caldwell; one brother Art Van Roekel.

Mr. John De Groot

Mr. John De Groot, age 91, of Orange City, passed away on Monday, February 10, at the Sanford Sheldon Hospital in Sheldon.

There will be a funeral service on Thursday, February 13, at 10:00am, at the Redeemer United Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. Todd De Rooy and the Rev. Jeremy Wiersema will officiate. Interment will follow at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. Visitation will be after 5:00pm on Wednesday, with the family present from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

John William was born on February 25, 1922, at Doon, the son of Abraham and Jennie (Koele) De Groot. He was raised on a farm south of Sioux Center, where he attended a country school. He served in the United States Army at the end of World War II.

On September 26, 1945, he married Nelvina Elizabeth Kroeze at Orange City. They lived in northwest Iowa, mostly in Orange City and Alton. He was a self-employed farmer, a brick layer for Rens Construction, and he did maintenance work at the Farmers Cooperative Elevator in Orange City. Mrs. De Groot passed away on March 25, 2008, in Orange City.

John was currently a member of the Redeemer United Reformed Church and a former member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Orange City. He taught Sunday school classes and participated in Men’s Bible Study. He had a strong faith and encouraged his family to memorize scripture verses. He was also a fervent prayer warrior.

He enjoyed fishing, playing pool and Rook, and helping his children with home improvement projects.

Survivors include his four children and their spouses, Eileen and Larry Fedders, of Sheldon; Mary and Terry Hubers, of Sioux Center; Merlin and Betty De Groot, of Sheldon; and Jerry and Marlys De Groot, of Alton; fourteen grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Lena Fedders, of Sioux Center; Gertrude Vis, of Rock Valley; and Edna Vander Broek, of Orange City; and three sisters-in-law, Eleanor De Groot, of Orange City; and Jackie Keizer and Frances Kroeze, both of Sheldon.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by three sisters and their husbands, Jacoba and Albert De Weerd, Marie and William “Bill” De Weerd, and Anna and Richard Kroon; three brothers, Henry De Groot, and his wife, Jean; Abraham “Bud” De Groot, and his wife, Edna; and Cornelius “Cornie” De Groot; five brothers-in-law, Ben Fedders, Edward Vis, Norman Vander Broek, Richard Keizer, and Gerritt Kroeze; and a sister-in-law and her husband, Ida and Guywood Kuyper.

Memorials will be directed to the Mid-America Reformed Seminary.