Renae De Haan

     Renae De Haan age 28 of Sheldon, IA died Sunday April 9, 2017 at Sanford Hospital in Sheldon, IA.

      Celebration of life service will be 10:30 AM Saturday, April 15, 2017 at Covenant Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center, IA with Pastor Verlyn Boone officiating. 

      Visitation will be Saturday from 9:30 until the time of service at Covenant Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center.

Reborn – A Fairy Tale for Renae Marie De Haan

(Written by Tammi Moore and Robb De Haan with Lore from J.R.R. Tolkien)

Once upon a time there was a gracious and loving King who sent one of his treasured families - a young man, his beautiful bride, and their infant son - to an ancient and mysterious land far across the ocean.  The young family grew to love their neighbors and joined with them to produce food for even the lowliest serf.  The King’s small family was kind and filled with good cheer because they knew the secret of lasting joy.

On the edge of the land was a forest and therein lived an evil Queen.  Daily she flew over the land on her dragon, who scorched the earth with his breath. She caused strife, spread lies, and delighted in the misfortunes she produced. Repeatedly, she saw the joy of the King’s young family and her jealousy of them grew and grew.  Her eyes were ever watchful for a way to dim their light of hope.

 One day, the evil Queen overheard that the young man and his bride were with child and that the infant would be a daughter.  The evil Queen’s fury was unleashed and she cursed the young bride, even as the little girl was still in her mother’s womb.  The Queen charged her vermin to strike the bride as she slept and proclaimed,  “Your light sickens me. If your baby is not perfect, your hope will fade away into the mist. I will wound her body so she will not walk or run. I will smite her tongue so she will not speak.  I will strike a blow to her eyes so her vision will be clouded.”  And with a chilling laugh, she retreated into the night.

 Unbeknownst to the evil Queen, a small fairy was watching from the shadows.  She touched the young mother’s unborn daughter and reminded the mother that hope was still alive.  The fairy said, “I cannot undo the curse for now, but I can give the child a blessing from the King, the Father of Light.”

 The Fairy whispered to the unborn baby girl, “You will not walk, but you will spend your life on a throne with wheels.  You will not speak, but I will give you enough of a voice to convey your needs, yet never utter a harsh word.  True, your vision will not be keen, but your exceptional hearing will give you sight.  I will give you the gift of nurses, doctors, aides, family and friends to speak on your behalf.  I will give you music in your laughter that will fill your entire body with a melody. Your giggles and smiles will fill the room with light.  I will surround you with a multitude of grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins that will see you, without the cloak of the curse.  As a child, your older brother will love you enough to say that all he wants for Christmas is for your curse to be lifted.  I will give you a younger brother who will grow up at the feet of your throne.  You will be the same age as your brothers’ fair maidens.  Though your time with them will be short, you will bless them as a sister.”  

 “You will be a gift to your parents who already know the words that are written in the ancient book of all wisdom.  Words that say, ‘Your present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed.’ (Romans 8:18)  ‘You will not boast of your works, but have shown us the light of grace.’ (paraphrased, Ephesians 2:8-9, 5:8)  In her departing words, the fairy told her, “But the best gift is yet to come from the Father of light’s only Son.  You will be given the name, Renae, which means reborn.  One day, the King will lift the curse and make you completely whole.  The King will adopt you as His own, and you will live as a princess in His Kingdom.”

 And so it was.  Renae was born in the ancient and mysterious land across the ocean.  Soon after, she left the land far, far away to be surrounded by family that loved her.  Her life was toilsome and laborious at times.  But she took joy in the small blessings and always looked forward to the day when she would be made whole. She imparted great lessons of truth to those fortunate enough to have eyes to see her inner artistry.  At the age of fifteen, she met her friends Faith, Hope and Charity, and they became her special comrades through her teen years.  They joined her in her gaiety and rarely noticed the effects of her curse.  In her 18th year, she said goodbye to her three friends and moved to a neighboring Village, where strangers soon became new friends.  The villagers were good-hearted and benevolent.  Together, they stirred the hearts of those closest to them.  Renae matured and was comfortable there, loving that she was closer to her family.  And all the while, the princess saturated her surroundings with her coveted smiles, turned her beautiful brown eyes toward those near her, and delighted in letting people fix her luxuriant hair.

Time went by, until on the last day of the third month of this year, the fairy returned.  She had one last gift for Renae.  “And you, light-bearer,” she said, “I come to you, who are not last in my thoughts.  For you, I have prepared this.”  She held up a small crystal cross: it glittered as she moved it.  “In this cross,” she said, “is caught the light of Jesus’ glory, set amid the waters of life.  It will shine still brighter when night is about you.  May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.” And with those words she could be seen no more.  Renae longed for the light, but tarried for just a little while so those who loved her could say goodbye, especially her parents who did not leave her side.  “I am so glad you were with me, Mom and Dad, here at the end of all things.”  She breathed her last breath and quietly departed into the light.  Princess Renae ran to the King who was waiting with her silver crown, and with Him she lived happily forever after.

 Reborn – the Background

 Renae Marie De Haan’s parents, Robb and Cheryl, moved from Minnesota to Ogbomoso, Nigeria, West Africa in March of 1986, to serve with Christian Reformed World Missions.  They helped manage a large Nigerian owned farm, were involved in a local church, and shared the Good News as opportunities arose.  Renae was born in the Baptist Hospital in Ogbomoso on October 22, 1988.  In March of 1989 the family moved to St. Paul, MN, and Renae was baptized in Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota, MN (where her parents were members).  As she grew, Renae’s health and learning needs became more apparent, and she made many friends at Gillette Children’s Hospital and at Rondo School.  In 1995 the family moved to Sioux Center, IA where Renae attended River Valley school in Rock Valley and the Sioux Center Community school.  She enjoyed attending Friendship class at First CRC, got to know many Home Health Care providers, and made friends with the nurses during respite visits to the Sioux Center Community Hospital.  Renae spent many Sunday mornings at Bridge of Hope Ministries where she and her family were members, and many afternoons in a 3 wheeled jogger exploring the outdoors with Dad and Mom and brothers Josh and Andrew.  She attended quite a few of her brothers school and athletic events, complaining only occasionally.

 In 2004, Renae moved to Faith, Hope, and Charity, a residential home for children with special needs in Storm Lake, Iowa.  While there, she attended Storm Lake High School and participated in their prom and other events.  Sunday visits with the family often included a walk along the lake, and eating out at Honey Kissed Pizza. 

Renae joined the community at Village Northwest in Sheldon, IA in 2007.  She lived in the ‘Free Wheelers’ house where she was loved and cared for until the summer of 2016, when she moved into a beautiful new house (346) carefully designed to meet her needs.  Renae’s extended family joined her for several Independence Day celebrations at the village, and she got to know most of the streets in Sheldon while going for Sunday walks with her parents.  Sandi teamed up with Renae for the Run, Walk, Roll, event held at the Village each spring, and they were very successful as athletes and fundraisers.  Renae clearly enjoyed the time she spent with the teachers, nurses, and fellow residents who shared her life at the Village for more than a decade.  She had special relationships with too many of them to list. 

On April 9, 2017, with one parent holding each hand, Renae slipped from this world, and went to join her King, the Father of Light.  Her memory is treasured by her parents, her brothers Joshua (fiance’ Haosha (Sha) Wang), and Andrew (wife Jessica), her grandparents Roger and Dorothy De Haan and Stan and Elaine Altena, her uncles Greg (Ruth) and Lee (Sheila) De Haan, and Loren (Shelli) De Groot, her aunts Tammi (Dan) Moore, Wendy (Paul) Arneberg, and Susan Bauman, and many other family members and friends.