Effie Brands

Rock Valley, IA: Effie Brands, 92, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Friday, November 18, 2022, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, November 23, at 10:30 AM, at First Christian Reformed Church of Rock Valley with Rev. Matthew Haan officiating. The service can be livestreamed at http://www.firstcrcrv.org/. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Tuesday, November 22, from 5:00-7:00 PM at First CRC of Rock Valley. Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley is assisting the family with arrangements. 

   Effie Brands, daughter of James and Helena (Vander Zwaag) Van Veldhuizen, was born June 25, 1930, at a farmhouse near Inwood, Iowa. Effie grew up on various farms near Inwood, Rock Rapids, Hull, and Carmel, Iowa. She attended country schools near Hull and Carmel, graduating from the 8^th grade. After 8^th grade, Effie helped on the family farm.

   On March 15, 1950, Effie was united in marriage to William Brands at the First Christian Reformed Church of Hull. Following their marriage they lived and farmed southwest of Rock Valley, Iowa, and north of Hull. Effie was a full-time homemaker, mother and helped Bill with chores on the farm. She also cleaned homes and businesses once a week. In 1999, Effie and Bill retired to Rock Valley. Bill passed away February 12, 2009.

   Effie enjoyed gardening, fishing, bus tours, and traveling adventures. She looked forward to time spent with family and friends. Effie was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church of Rock Valley as well as Ruth Circle.

   In August of 2019, Effie moved to Aspen Heights in Hull, IA. For the next three years she enjoyed the activities and fellowship there until moving to Whispering Heights in Rock Valley in October of 2022.

   Effie is survived by her 4 children, Don (Helen) Brands of Worthington, Minnesota, Bob (Wanda) Brands of Boyden, Iowa, Donna (Dave) Roghair of Sioux Center, Iowa, and Lori (Russ) Gradert of Hawarden, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; sister, Joan (Milton) Vander Schaaf; and 2 brothers-in-law, Melvin Brands of Sanborn, Iowa and Albert (Alice) Brands of Mesa, Arizona.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Helena Van Veldhuizen; and husband, Bill Brands.