- Date Of Birth: October 18, 1931
- Date Of Death: August 31, 2022
- State: Iowa
Louise Joan Van Woerkom was born October 18, 1931, to Walter and Marie (Groenendyk) Newendorp. She grew up on a farm between Leighton and Oskaloosa.
While Louise spent time caring for others throughout her career, the job she cherished most was caring for her family in her home. After having her first two children, Bonnie and Jan, she came home with her first set of twins, Karen and Kenny, and another set five years later, Jay and Jon. Louise raised her children on farms near Oskaloosa and Pella with the love and patience only she had. As the years went on, Louise cared for her grandbabies then the great grandbabies with that same patience and love. She was always the first one to comfort a crying baby with her touch and a tight swaddle. If she wasn’t snuggling babies, she could be found at home putting a puzzle together, reading a book, or enjoying time with family members who had stopped by. Louise had the gift of hospitality, and always had a delicious recipe she was cooking or baking to share with her family and friends. The house was always open to the kids and grandkids whose first stop was usually the fridge to see what grandma had just baked.
Once the kids were grown, Louise and John traveled many places in the United States and abroad. For their 25th anniversary, they went to Hawaii, and in 1995, they spent some time traveling in Europe.
Louise was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Marie Newendorp, her parents-in-law Bastian and Gertie Van Woerkom, her brothers: Wilbur Newendorp and John Newendorp, sister Beulah Arkema, brothers-in-law: Larry Van Woerkom, Dwight Wanders, and Dormand Arkema, and sister-in-law Sylvia and Bill Quick.
Those left to cherish her memory are John, her husband of 68 years, and their family:
Bonnie and Warren Van Wyngarden, Peoria
Cory and Sara Van Wyngarden
Roan, Ella, Emme
Will and Allison Van Wyngarden
Kaden, Kirby, Kynlee, Kaiya
Mark and Jessica Van Wyngarden
Ben, Brady, Beau, Brock
Alex and Jentri Van Wyngarden
Ada, Aaron, Alyza, Alivia, Asa
Jan and Kevin Laverman, Sully
Ashley and Dan Drusch
Clarissa Laverman
Jared Laverman
Karen and Don Branderhorst, Otley
Katie and Matthew Miller
Kellan, Kensington
Stacie and Bret Fynaardt
Hudson, Eleanor
Lindsey and Nathan Wolff
Blakely, Delaney
Ken and Janiece (Meulpolder) Van Woerkom, Pella
Mandy and Chad Klyn
Grant, Norah
Mindy and Trevor Jones
Lucy, Gwen, baby due in February
Kalie Van Woerkom
Parker, Cooper, Hadley
Jay and Jill (Hougham) Van Woerkom, Pella
Kendall Van Woerkom and fiance Jesse Ried
Jon and Glenda (Van Wyk) Van Woerkom, Pella
Nicole and Jon Yoder
Emily and Kurt Boender
Jackson, Jayden, Lane
Taylor and William Vande Voort
Everly, Theo, and baby due in September
Brooke Van Woerkom
Louise is also survived by her sister Dorthea Wanders, sisters-in-law: Gladys Newendorp, Karen Newendorp, and RoseAnn Van Woerkom
