- Date Of Birth: November 29, 1931
- Date Of Death: January 6, 2009
- State: Iowa
Gladys Vander Molen, the third child of Jacob and Marie (Van Zee) Veldhuizen, was born November 29, 1931. She was born in the house her grandfather built south of Lynnville. At the age of two, her family moved to a farm one mile south of Taintor. She attended Taintor Independent School, except for 8th grade, that year she attended Peoria Christian. She attended New Sharon High School, graduating with the class of 1949.
Gladys continued to live with her parents while Marvin served his time in Japan. She worked at the Farmers Coop grocery store during his absence. Then they together moved to California when Marvin was stationed there. After their return to Iowa, Gladys and Marvin took up farming for their career. They first lived south of Sully for four years, then to the home place south of Lynnville from 1960 until 1986. They then semi-retired to Peoria, where they lived for the next twenty years. Gladys was first diagnosed with breast cancer in March, 1995.
On December, 2005 she went to the Hospice of Pella Comfort House and was able to move to Hilltop North in March, 2006. On December 14, 2008, she returned to the Comfort House until January 6 when the Lord took her home.
Gladys is survived by her four children: Dennis and Linda (Pol) of Clinton, Mississippi; Gary and Barbara (Boomsma) of Madison, Tennessee; Byron and Carla (Van Hal) of Lynnville, Iowa; and Brenda and Jim Sperr of Knoxville, Iowa. Also, her nine grandchildren: Corey, Erin and Katie Vander Molen of Clinton, Mississippi.; Megan (Vander Molen) and Dave Gillum of Cleveland, Ohio, Brett Vander Molen of Dallas, Texas; Jessica and Janelle Vander Molen of Lynnville, Iowa; and James and Jacob Sperr of Knoxville, Iowa.
Of her original family she leaves: one brother and his wife, Henry and Alma Veldhuizen of Sully; one sister Geraldine Dykhuis of Pella; one sister-in-law Henrietta Velduizen of Pella; and one brother-in-law and his wife, Don and Rachel Vander Molen of Peoria.
Preceding Gladys in death was her husband of fifty years, Marvin James on September 3, 2003; a grandson, Ryan Vander Molen on February 25, 1982; her parents, Jacob and Marie (Van Zee) Veldhuizen; a brother, Leonard Veldhuizen; and a brother-in-law, Arnold Dykhuis.
10:30 A.M., Saturday, January 10, 2009
Peoria, Iowa
Beginning at noon., Friday, January 9, 2009
Family will be present 5:00-7:00 P.M.
Pella, Iowa
Pella Christian High School Endowment Fund
Hospice of Pella
