Margaret Vander Stoep

Margaret Vander Stoep, age 89, passed away Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, February 2, 2013 at First Reformed Church in Sheldon, Iowa with Rev. David Brower officiating. Burial will be held at Lebanon Cemetery in Lebanon, Iowa. Visitation will be held at First Reformed Church in Sheldon on Friday, February 1, 2013 with family present from 5:30 ' 8:00 p.m. Condolences may be left for the family at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Margaret Wilma Vander Stoep was born on March 14, 1923 in Lebanon, Iowa, daughter of Gerrit and Bertha (Kooi) Vander Lugt. She attended school until the 8th grade, and went to NCC where she received her GED at the age of 60. Margaret was united in marriage with Andrew D. Vander Stoep on October 12, 1944 at Margaret's parents' residence in Garfield Township, Iowa. Margaret served her family as a homemaker and her family was the light of her life. She adored the time spent with her children, and eventually grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Margaret loved to visit with people and she never knew a stranger. She was very interested in politics and was always aware of what was happening in the political realm. Margaret was also musically gifted and she enjoyed playing the piano. She was also known as a prayer warrior, an attribute she passed down to her family. Margaret loved to read and treasured words, especially the words of the Bible, which she read daily.

Margaret is survived by her 2 sons and their wives, Alvin and Robyn Vander Stoep of Flower Mound, Texas and Floyd and Melanie Vander Stoep of Elgin, Texas; 4 daughters and their husbands, Glenda and Mark Bruggom of Everly, Iowa, Carole and Jim Mariette of Big Bear Lake, California, Laura and Robert Schat of Sheldon, Iowa and Rachel and Randy Johns of James, Iowa; 21 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 1 brother, Allan Vander Lugt; 3 sisters, Grace Haverhals, Lois Hoyer, and Dorothy Bennette and 1 sister-in-law, Esther Vander Lugt. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 1 brother, Ray Vander Lugt and an infant brother.