Gracia Vander Velde

Rock Valley, IA: Gracia Vander Velde, 70, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Monday, August 13, 2018 at Hegg Health Center in Rock Valley. Memorial services will be held Thursday, August 16, at 11:00 AM at Faith Reformed Church of Rock Valley with Rev. Mike Molenaar and Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating. Private family burial will precede the memorial service at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Wednesday, August 15, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Faith Reformed Church of Rock Valley. The family prefers memorials be given to Home Health of Hegg Health Center.

Gracia Vander Velde, daughter of Martin and Wilmina (Ennema) Wynia, was born September 4, 1947 in Orange City, Iowa. She lived on the family farm southwest of Sioux Center, Iowa, and attended Country School and Sioux Center High School, graduating in 1965. She graduated from Northwestern College in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in history education. While attending Northwestern, she met her husband of 49 years, Jim.

On August 15, 1969, Gracia married Jim Vander Velde at First Reformed Church in Sioux Center. Jim and Gracia spent their first year of marriage in Louisville, Kentucky, where Jim went to graduate school at Southern Baptist Seminary and Gracia taught junior high students at Jefferson County Schools. The couple moved to Rock Valley in 1970 where Jim taught at Rock Valley Community Schools and Gracia was a substitute teacher and a homemaker raising four children. Gracia helped operate Vander Velde Nursery and Flower Shop for many years. She also owned and operated Cornerstone Christian Bookstore in Rock Valley. Later, she became the office manager at the Home Health office of Hegg Health Center for many years until she retired.

Gracia cherished time spent with family and friends. She especially enjoyed going to the lake house and watching her grandchildren’s activities. Gracia also enjoyed reading and traveling. Jim and Gracia took several cruises and tours all over the country and the world. She was a founding member of Faith Reformed Church where she was a faithful member and supporter. Gracia was a supporter of Northwestern College sports and activities. She enjoyed sitting in the sunroom every morning to watch the birds and enjoy God’s creation.

Gracia is survived by her husband, Jim of Rock Valley, IA; son, Scott and his wife Sarah of Sioux Falls, SD; son, Monte and his wife Erin of Sioux Center, IA; son, Matt and his wife Theresa of Sioux Falls, SD; daughter, Gretchen and her husband Daniel Bruhn of Sioux Center, IA; 13 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Gracia is also survived by her brother, Marv and his wife Esther of Sioux Center, IA; brother, Wilmer and his wife Diane of Sioux Center, IA; sister, Elaine and her husband Paul De Jong of Orange City, IA.

Gracia was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Wilmina Wynia; parents-in-law, Martin and Gertrude Vander Velde; and an infant daughter.