Janeva Vermeer

Janeva Vermeer, 87, of Sioux Center, IA died Tuesday, November 5, 2013, at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center. A visitation will be held on Friday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 6-8PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux center. A prayer service for family and friends will be held on Saturday at 10:00AM at the New Life Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Dan Kruse officiating. Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11:00AM at New Life Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Rick Van Ravenswaay officiating. The Vermeer family prefers memorials benefit Words of Hope or Sioux Center Christian School Foundation. Janeva Vermeer was born in Sioux Center, Iowa on May 25, 1926 to Fred and Mattie (Tamminga) Vander Weide. She attended the Sioux Center Christian Grade School and graduated from Sioux Center Community High School. During Janeva's childhood, she spent time playing in the city park with her neighborhood kids. Her home was close to everything so her family walked to the park, grocery store, church and to her friend's homes. She loved to swim at "the pit" (Sandy Hollow). In high school, Janeva worked for the Sioux Center Shopper. She would go to work at 2am to fold sheets and staple them together. In her senior year, she worked after school at the Mutual Telephone office for Ross Vernon. She worked at the phone company full time after she graduated from high school. On January 2, 1948, Janeva married the love of her life, Gerald Vermeer at First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center. The couple made their home in Sioux Center where they have lived the majority of their lives. Janeva worked for Coop Gas and Oil in Sioux Center for nearly 30 years, doing bookkeeping and posting sales. She retired in order to spend more time with Gerald when he retired from Words of Hope. She loved interacting with people and worked part-time at Casey's Bakery. She enjoyed meeting people and asking them about their day. She reluctantly left Casey's when the physical demands became too much for her. She was a charter member of New Life Reformed Church and was proud to be a part of starting the young church. In her free time, Janeva enjoyed golfing with the "Gang", singing in the church choir, crocheting, reading books, baking for others and bringing food to the sick and new mothers of New Life Reformed Church. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Janna and Dennis De Jong of Sioux Center; her son, Chad Vermeer of Jackson Hole, WY; four grandchildren: Emily (Pete) De Boer of Sioux Center, Sara (Keith) Anderson of Hull, Kayti De Jong (fiancé, Daniel Gillaspey) of Cedar Falls, IA and Kendra Vermeer of Jackson Hole WY; five great grandchildren: Samantha and Ethan De Boer, Owen, Dylan and Madison Anderson; her brother, Edward Vander Weide of Kentwood, MI; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Jean Vermeer from Buena Park, CA and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; sister and brother-in-law, Jo and John Vande Kerk and sister-in-law, Kaye Vander Weide.