Helen Vander Schaaf Kobes

     Helen Vander Schaaf Kobes, 70, of Sioux Center, IA, died Monday, January 22, 2018 in Sioux Center, after a 19-month struggle with ALS. Throughout her life, and in her death, Helen professed that her only comfort was found in Christ alone.

     A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 26, 2018 at 11:00AM at the First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. David Smit and Rev. LeRoy Christoffels officiating.

     A prayer service for family and friends will be held on Friday at 10:00AM at the First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Carl Klompien officiating.  Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

     A visitation with the family present will be held on Thursday from 5:30 – 7:30 PM.  Due to a scheduling conflict the visitation will be held at the Faith Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center.

     Memorials may be directed to Sioux Center Christian School.

     Helen Vander Schaaf Kobes, the daughter of Ted and Dina (Riemersma) Vander Schaaf, was born on September 1, 1947, in Beetgumermolen, Friesland, in the Netherlands. She immigrated to the United States when she was two years old, arriving at Ellis Island and walking across the bridge to Hoboken, New Jersey. She lived in Minnesota for a short time, and then moved to Southern California. She was a graduate of Valley Christian High School and Dordt College. She taught Physical Education at Jenison Christian (Michigan), Covenant Community (Tallahassee, Florida), and at Sioux Center Christian School for forty-four years. “Mrs. Kobes” was a beloved teacher who had a special heart for children, and she touched the lives of hundreds of students over the course of her career.    

     A loving and devoted wife and mother, Helen enjoyed traveling to far-flung locations with her husband, Wayne. She had unparalleled organizational skills, a wonderful sense of humor, and she delighted in shopping for her children and grandchildren, especially at Christmas. She counted her sons- and daughters-in-law as her own, and as a grandma, she knew just how to nurture (and spoil) each of her nine grandchildren; they all love her immensely.    

     Survivors include her husband of 48 years, Wayne Kobes; her children Jonathan and Elizabeth Kobes (Madeleine, Bethany, Johannah, and James) of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Kristin and Jack Kobes Du Mez (Zachary, Eva, and Louisa) of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Timothy and Christina Kobes of Fort Worth, Texas; and Karin and Nevada De Lapp (Alethea and Evangeline) of Le Mars, Iowa; and sister Margaret Vander Schaaf of Costa Mesa, California, and brother Dave Vander Schaaf of Ontario, California.    

     Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Corrie Alger, and brothers Dick Vander Schaaf and Albert Vander Schaaf.