Beulah Groenendyk

Beulah Jane Van De Wall was born on May 11th, 1926, at Leighton, Iowa. She was the second of four children born to Peter and Gertrude Steenhoek Van De Wall. Beulah attended school at Monroe through the 8th grade and then left home to seek a life of her own. Through the years her many adventures led her to the love of her life, Charley Paul Groenendyk. Beulah and C.P. (Bud) Groenendyk “borrowed” the family car and where united in marriage on December 25th, 1946, in Hernando, Mississippi. After spending a month “honeymooning” in Florida, they returned to Iowa to make their home in Tracy, Iowa. To this union three children were born: Susan Faye on February 8, 1948, Betty Jane on February 24, 1950 and Kenneth Paul on May 12, 1951.

Through the years Beulah acquired a passion for the great outdoors. She enjoyed fishing, her many flower beds, gardening and her “pride and joy”, her strawberry bed where she spent many, many hours caring and weeding the bed. She spent most of the summers mowing her big yard on her 8 H.P. wheel horse riding lawn mower. Beulah also loved to make quilts of many colors but her greatest love of all was when she became “Grandma”. Grandma Jane spent many hours with her six granddaughters spoiling and teaching them all she could. During one of her many baking sessions the question was asked which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Grandma’s answer was the chicken, so from that point on Grandma collected tons of chickens in all shapes and sizes and displayed them in her kitchen. As more years went by Grandma Jane earned the beloved title of “Great-grandma”.

In July of 2007, Beulah suffered a stroke and fought with many set backs and complications. On February 7th, 2010, God called Beulah home at the age of 83 years, 9 months and 7 days with Sue, Kelli, Mark, Kris, Knicy Paul and Koli J. by her side in New Sharon, Iowa.

Those left to cherish her memory is one daughter, Susan F. Kersbergen, presently of New Sharon; 6 granddaughters, 8 great-grandchildren and 3 step-great-grandchildren. They are:

Kelli Renae and Mark Doty of New Sharon, Brenda Joy and Gary Dabb of Pleasantville, Sherrie Lynn and Stephen Kelly of Ripon, California, Jolene Marie and Brian Veach of Urbandale, Esther Ann and Brett Trotter of Ames and Evelyn Amber Van Hal of Knoxville.

Of Beulah’s original family she leaves her sister, Dorothy and her husband, Dale Lund of Slater, Iowa, her brother, Marion Van De Wall and his wife, Beverly, of Pleasant Hill, Iowa; two sisters-in-law, Anna Pauline (Groenendyk) Nikkel and Thelma Hazel(Dutch) Groenendyk both of Tracy, Iowa; along with many nieces and nephews.

Those waiting for her in heaven are her parents, Peter and Gertrude Van De Wall; her parents-in-law, Eldert and Sarah Johnson Groenendyk; her husband, Charley Paul (Bud) Groenendyk; her son, Kenneth Paul, her daughter Betty Jane and her husband, Edward Arthur Van Hal; her sister, Bernice and her husband, Cecil Aldrich; and two brothers-in-law, Willem Harlan (Dutch) Groenendyk and Albert H. Nikkel.

Graveside services were held on Friday, February 12, 2010 at the Sandridge Cemetery in Tracy, Iowa.

Memorials may be given for the Clay Township Rescue and Fire Unit in Tracy, Iowa or Hospice of Pella, Iowa.

Arrangements were made by the Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home.

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