Laverman, Henrietta Wilma Van Rees - 1930-2024

BRAND, FOPMA, LANSER, LAVERMAN, NIKKEL, RIETVELD, VAN REES, VANDER HART, VANDER MOLEN, VERHEY, WYNJA

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 9/5/2024 at 09:35:38

Henrietta Wilma Laverman, 94, of Pella and formerly of Sully, passed away  Aug. 21, 2024, at The Cottages in Pella. Private family service was held Monday, Aug. 26, at Garden Chapel Funeral Home, Pella. Interment followed in Sully Cemetery. Memorials have been designated for Hope Ministries in Des Moines or Gideons International, PO Box 161, Pella IA 50219.
Henrietta was the second daughter born to Lawrence and Wilma Henrietta (Lanser) Van Rees on June 19, 1930. She grew up on the farm and graduated from Sully Christian School and Pella Christian High School.  Henrietta received a  teaching certificate from Central College and taught three years at Peoria Christian School.
Aug. 16, 1950, she married Wilford Laverman at Sully Christian Reformed Church. They were blessed with 63 wonderful years together. She lived in the Sully area all her life except for one year in Fort Leonardwood, MO. While Wilford was stationed there, they welcomed their first child Gayle Ilene. After his return from Korea in 1953, they returned to farming. In 1955, they moved to the farm near Sully where she had grown up. They welcomed four more children: Wesley Jay, Julianne Joy, Dennis John, and Karla Faye. Henrietta took on the duties of a farmwife and mother. In 1988, they moved to Sully. She worked  part-time at Coffee Cup Café.
Henrietta was a lifelong member of Sully Christian Reformed Church. She dearly loved the Lord, her husband, five children, 12 grandchildren, and 17 great-grand-children. She prayed every day for each one. She enjoyed making afghans and quilts for them. Together, she and Wilford enjoyed vacations to several places in the United States and Canada. They especially enjoyed the white sandy beaches of Gulf Shores, AL, during many winters.
Henrietta enjoyed volunteering with many organizations over the years. She would say it was her way of serving Jesus by serving others. She blessed her family with many homemade cookies, buns, meals, and Thanksgiving turkeys. Whenever someone needed help, she would be there. Henrietta’s hands were never idle. Whatever she was working on, there was always a proper procedure to be done. This statement was often heard when describing her, “She lived a good life, she was very well loved!”
Preceding her in death were her husband Wilford in 2014; son Dennis in 2016; grandson Jeremy in infancy; parents; parents-in-law John and Katie Laverman; sisters Lenora and Bernie Nikkel, Joan and Ben Verhey, and Joyce Brand;  brother David Van Rees; and of Wilford’s family: Betty and Bernie Nikkel, Charlene and Marion Vander Hart, and Lester and Marcella Laverman.
Henrietta’s family includes children Gayle (Ervin) Fopma of Urbandale, Wes (Cindy) Laverman of Sully, Julie (Lowell) Vander Molen of Pella, Linda Rietveld of Pella, and Karla Wynja of West Des Moines; 12 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Henrietta is also survived by her brother-in-law Charles Brand, sister-in-law Bonnie Van Rees, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Source: Hometown Press (Sully, IA); August 28, 2024