Obituary of Vander Schaaf

Berdena (Kleinhesselink) Vander Schaaf, the daughter of Charles and Cora (Vellinga) Kleinhesselink, was born on March 5, 1912. She spent the greater part of her childhood on a farm near Newkirk, Iowa. She attended the area country school. She was united in marriage to Joe Vander Schaaf in March of 1936. They farmed in Sioux County for 7 years and then near Sanborn for 13 years. Joe passed away suddenly in 1956. Berdena moved into a house in Sheldon in 1959, and began working in the kitchen of the Sheldon Elementary School, where she worked until her retirement. In 2007 she made her home at the Beehive Assisted Living in Sheldon. Following a brief illness, she passed away at the Sanford Medical Center in Sheldon on Friday, February 26, 2010 at the age of 97. Berdena was a member of the First Reformed Church in Sheldon. She enjoyed watching basketball games, taking walks, and planting flowers. She loved to babysit and spend time with her family. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Cliff Vander Schaaf of Sheldon, IA and Lavonne and Ron Petty of Fontana, CA; her grandchildren, Brent Vander Schaaf of Sioux Falls, SD, Kurt Vander Schaaf of Sheldon, IA, and Sonya and John Glenn of Omaha, NE; two great-grandchildren, Mandi and Ellie Glenn; one sister, Nelvina Franken of Rock Valley, IA; two sisters-in-law, Bertha Kleinhesselink of Orange City, IA and Abby Kleinhesselink of Mesa, AZ; one brother-in-law, Henry Peuse of Orange City, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers, Joe and Ring Kleinhesselink, one sister, Harriet Peuse, and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. Celebration of Life Berdena Vander Schaaf Born ~ March 5, 1912 Died ~ February 26, 2010 Age ~ 97 years 11 months 21 days Memorial Service 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, 2010 First Reformed Church Sheldon, Iowa Officiating ~ Rev. David Brower Organist ~ Midge Andringa Soloist ~ Shannon Baack “How Great Thou Art” Congregational Singing “Under His Wings” P. 356 “Amazing Grace” P. 202 Pallbearers Berdena’s family Burial Newkirk Cemetery Newkirk, Iowa (1:00 p.m. prior to the memorial service)