Winifred Eileen Van Veldhuizen

Rock Valley, IA: Winifred Van Veldhuizen, 80, of Rock Valley, entered into the arms of her heavenly Father, on Saturday, November 27, 2021. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 2, at 10:30 AM at the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley with Rev. Matthew Haan officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Wednesday, December 1, from 5:00-7:00 PM at First Christian Reformed Church. Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley is assisting the family with arrangements.

Winifred Eileen was born on June 11, 1941, the daughter of Gerrit and Gertrude (Pollema) Van Sloten. She was raised on a farm north of Hull, Iowa. Her grade school education was at Garfield #8 Country School and she graduated from Hull Public School in 1959.

On December 1, 1959, she was united in marriage to Edwin Loren Van Veldhuizen. They made their home south of Doon, Iowa, where she raised her family and helped Ed farm until he was killed in a tractor/train accident on May 20, 1989. She worked at the Hegg Memorial Hospital and then worked for the Senior Citizen Center and Meals on Wheels until she retired. Winifred was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church of Rock Valley, Iowa, where she attended Ladies Aid. She mentored at Friendship Bible Study. Winifred was not into technology and her radio was usually on listening to her favorite stations. She loved chatting on the phone with not only with her family but with many others. One of her most enduring passions was a heart and mission for sending greeting cards with hand written notes for every occasion. She was a countless prayer warrior for her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her four children, Lorna (Brad) Kraayenbrink of Sheldon, Iowa, Sandi Wallenburg of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Mary (Bruce) Wiersma of Orange City, Iowa, and Larry (Paige) Van Veldhuizen of Doon, Iowa; she was blessed with 10 grandchildren, Joshua (Jessica) Kraayenbrink, Matthew Kraayenbrink, Melissa (Greg) Van Den Berg, Dustin (Roxy) Wallenburg, Krista (Jared Cramer) Wallenburg, Angela (Dan) Aesoph, Travis Wiersma, Morgan Erickson, Brooke (Colby) Klaassen, and Eric Van Veldhuizen; 14 great grandchildren, Kyla, Nolan, Ben, Sawyer, Addie, Norah, Cameron, Quinn, Ava, Levi, Brantlee, Brogan, Benson, and Hadley; brother, Norm (Bettie) Van Sloten of Boyden, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Coreen Van Sloten of Rock Valley, Iowa, and Barb Van Sloten of Spirit Lake, Iowa; in-laws, Joan Van Maanen, Elaine Bolkema, and Ron (Gert) Van Veldhuizen, all from Rock Valley, Iowa and Claretta (John) Lobbes of Orange City, Iowa; dear friends, Janice Attema, Garlene Van Veldhuizen, Wilmina and Andy Oostra; special cousin, Wynn Feenstra; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and good friends. All are left to treasure their memories of Winifred.

In addition to her husband, Edwin, she was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, John Van Sloten and Gary Van Sloten; parents-in-law; brothers-in-law, Gerrit Van Maanen and Leroy Bolkema; and dear friends, John Van Veldhuizen and John Attema.