Notes for: Helen Blom
Posted at Find-A-Grave:
Helen (Blom) Vander Waal daughter of Antonie and Josie (Ver Ploeg) Blom was born April 17, 1918 on a farm in Marion County, Iowa. She attended North Porterville Country School through the eighth grade. She stayed home helping her mother with cooking and housework and her father with dairy farming. She made public confession of her faith on November 14, 1937, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella.
She was united in marriage to Elmer Ray Vander Waal on October 10, 1940. To this union three children were born: Robert, Judy and Charles. Their first home was on a rented farm near Leighton, Iowa. When the farm was sold they rented another small farm near Pella. In 1958, they purchased an acreage three miles east of Pella. Helen was a homemaker, served hot lunches in various Pella Community Schools and helped with the farming. Her hobby was making scrap books. Elmer and Helen were members of the Third Reformed Church for many years. In 1954, they became faithful members of Trinity Reformed Church where Helen attended Circle meetings and taught a children's Sunday school class.
Helen enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and was always happy to see them. Helen moved into the Pella Manor on May 13, 2009 and enjoyed living there playing games and having coffee time with her neighbors and friends.
Those left to cherish her memory are her three children, ten grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.
Helen is also survived by a brother Lawrence (Irene) Blom of Pella, and a sister Lenora Pleima of Pella.
She was preceded in death by her husband Elmer in 2007, parents, great grandson Luke Kretzinger, brother Ernest Blom, sister-in-law Mary Jane Blom, and brother-in-law Albert Pleima.
Family:
Robert and Marilyn Vander Waal, Pella
Sheryl and Jim Miller, Ames
Bryce, Janae, DJ
Glenda and Rob Kretzinger, Johnston
Matt, Elise, Alison
Brent and Esther Vander Waal, Johnston
Lewis, Lauren
Brad and Lesley Vander Waal, Midland, Michigan
Drew, Reed, Ruby
Judy and the late Ron Van Rees, Des Moines
Kristin and Jeff Siewert, Pella
Zach, Cole
Mike and Sarah Van Rees, Ankeny
Caleb, Olivia, Lilly
Susan and Fred Van Geest, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Julia, Luke
Charles and Marla Vander Waal, Pella
Tricia and Dan Vermeer, Pella
Brant, Isaac, Jack, Ella
Todd and Emily Vander Waal, Pella
Teagen, Anna, Nathan
Crystal and Jeff Namminga, Pella
Jasmine, Sydney, Addison, Andrew