Effie Vermeer

Effie Vermeer, 98, of Sioux Center, IA died Friday, March 22, 2013, at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center. A visitation will be held on Friday from 4-8PM with the family present from 5-7PM at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A prayer service for family and friends will be held on Saturday at 10:15AM at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11AM at the First Reformed Church with Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating. In lieu of flowers or gift items the Vermeer family prefer memorials be directed to the Sioux Center Community Hospital Foundation or Hope Haven Ministries of Rock Valley. Effie Vermeer, 98, was called home on March 22, 2013. Effie was born on January 8, 1915 to Frank and Goldie (Schilder) Vande Kerk in Hospers, Iowa. Effie was preceded in death by her husband, Harold E. Vermeer in 2004 and her daughter, Ethel Lenters in 2010. Effie lived in the Sioux Center area all of her adult life, spending her last years in Crown Pointe. She became a member of First Reformed Church of Sioux Center, Iowa upon her marriage to Harold on March 16, 1944. Over the years, Effie participated in many activities and groups at First Reformed Church. Effie was the beloved mother of Gayle (Daniel) Lafferty of Commerce Township, MI, Philip (Beverly) Vermeer of Enfield, NH, Evelyn (Douglas) Gibbons of Sioux Falls, SD, Gene (Thelma) Vermeer and son-in-law, Stephen Lenters all of Sioux Center. Effie has 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Effie was a loving and gentle mother and grandmother. She leaves each of them with her witness to a strong faith and love for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ which guided her actions all the days of her life. Effie was a busy farm wife, raising children and helping Harold, but she always had time for others; to bake a cake for someone in need or send a card. Many remember getting one of Effie's angel food cakes with a little bouquet in the center or a cookie decorated like a Dutch girl. There were always homemade cookies at Effie's house to welcome anyone who stopped by. Effie was a gifted artist and was one of the "Gospel Artists" who, along with her friends, Eunice Raak, Estella Achterhof, Frieda VandeBrake, and Priscilla Hollander, gave over 200 performances in churches in the area with all proceeds donated to support Hope Haven in Rock Valley, Iowa. Also left to cherish Effie's memory are a brother Henry Vande Kerk of Grandville, MI, and two sisters-in-law: Francis Vande Kerk of St. Louis, MO and Harriet Vermeer of Sioux Center. She is also preceded in death by her parents; three brothers: Ben, Jake and John Vande Kerk; four sisters: Jenny Gritters, Hattie (Peters) Berkenpas, Josie Nibbelink and Alice VandeKerk.