Cover photo for Mary Ann (Zoerink) Van Meeteren's Obituary
Mary Ann (Zoerink) Van Meeteren Profile Photo
1927 Mary Ann (Zoerink) 2020

Mary Ann (Zoerink) Van Meeteren

November 8, 1927 — February 25, 2020

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MARY ANN ZOERINK VAN MEETEREN

BORN
November 8, 1927
Hull, Iowa
PASSED AWAY
February 25, 2020
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

FUNERAL SERVICE
1:30 P.M. Saturday,
February 29, 2020
First Reformed Church; Sheldon, Iowa
Rev. Dave Van Kley ~ Officiating

Visitation will be after 4 P.M. on Friday, February 28, 2020 with family present from 5 – 7 P.M. at First Reformed Church in Sheldon.

MUSIC
“His Eye Is On The Sparrow” Sung by ~ Brian Tutje
“When We All Get To Heaven” ~ Alan Jackson
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS
“Amazing Grace”
“Sweet Hour Of Prayer”
Organist ~ Ingetta Tutje

CASKET BEARERS
Emilee Nedoba Hannah Van Meeteren
Faith Van Meeteren Garret Van Der Wilt
Jacob Van Der Wilt Brett Van Der Wilt
Jenna Van Der Wilt

FINAL RESTING PLACE
East Lawn Cemetery
Sheldon, Iowa

After today’s graveside service, relatives and friends are invited to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements are under the care of the
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home; Sheldon, Iowa.
MARY ANN ZOERINK VAN MEETEREN
On November 8, 1927, Mary Ann was born at home in the town of Hull to John and Minnie (Groen) Zoerink. Mary was the embodiment of a life of faith and good works. Growing up in a family of nine siblings in the 1930s, Mary’s strong work ethic and dedication to family appeared early. Attending Hull Christian School to grade eight, she left her studies to help support the family by waitressing and cleaning surgical instruments in Hull’s hospital for Dr. Maris.
On December 26, 1947, Mary was united in marriage with Charles (Chuck), son of Peter and Rena (Woudstra) Van Meeteren. Chuck and Mary lived in several small communities including Hull, Newkirk, and Bigelow, Minnesota, eventually settling in Sheldon where Chuck drove truck for the elevator and Mary worked at Hollander’s dime store. Mary wasn’t fond of traveling, but loved opening up their home to welcome traveling friends and family. Many nieces and nephews share happy memories of visiting Chuck and Mary’s home and of the individual attention given to them by their Aunt Mary. After waiting over ten years, Chuck and Mary were delighted to have their own children; Brian in 1960, and Beth in 1966. When the children were young, Chuck and Mary moved their home from the tiny house west of the train tracks to the the “big white house with the front porch” on 7th street. Mary cherished her role as a mother and the big white house with the front porch became a hub for Beth and Brian’s friends. When both children were in school, Mary returned to work. For many years, Mary stocked the Hallmark gift cards at Kats Hardware. Even longer, she worked as a cook for 39 years in Sheldon Public Schools, finally retiring at age 85. Many Sheldon graduates fondly remember the spunky white-haired lunch lady who snuck extra helpings of mashed potatoes or an extra peanut butter bar onto the plates of students who needed just a little extra attention. She knew the name of every student that came through the lunch line.
After the death of Chuck in 1993, Mary stayed in the big white house with the front porch and made memories for another generation of family. Mary was an incredible grandmother for seven lucky grandchildren, with an ability to make each one understand how valued they are. Her quick wit delivered with a twinkle in her eye brought a great deal of laughter and happiness to their lives. When they couldn’t be in the big white house with her, she stayed connected with them through the telephone, then cell-phone, and in recent-years through video-chats where she was able to form another relationship with great-grandson, Charlie. The grandchildren delighted in their grandma’s participation in car shows with her immaculately polished 1970 red Volkswagen Beetle. Mary would often let one of them run up to the stage to collect a trophy, adding to her collection of more than fifty.
Family were not the only ones to benefit from a relationship with Mary. She was a touchstone to many in her home community as she welcomed them into the big white house to sit around her kitchen table with platefuls of cookies, bars, and a listening ear, making sure they understood how valued they are. Mary lived a humble life, enriching the lives of many with faith and good works.
Left to cherish her memory are her two children, Brian and his wife Beth (Dykstra) Van Meeteren of Cedar Falls, Beth and her husband Frank Van Der Wilt of Orange City; seven grandchildren and their spouses and partners, Emilee (Van Meeteren) and Andrew Nedoba of Waterloo, Hannah Van Meeteren and Tyler Peekenschneider, and Faith Van Meeteren of Cedar Falls, Garret Van Der Wilt of Orange City, Jacob Van Der Wilt of Orange City and Alex Tiedemann of Boyden, Brett Van Der Wilt and Jenna Van Der Wilt of Orange City; and great-grandson, Charles Nedoba. Survivors also include two sisters, Leone Metros of Seal Beach, California and Gail (Tom) Craven of Costa Mesa, California, a brother Wayne (Alex) Zoerink of Palm Harbor, Florida; Chuck’s sister-in-law Leora Van Meeteren; and many nieces and nephews.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her siblings and their spouses, Betty (Allen) Pierce, Mitchell (Gertrude) Zoerink, Ivan (Jeanette) Zoerink, Iola (Henry) Moss, Merna Zoerink, and Bill Metros; and Chuck’s siblings and their spouses, Adrian (Grace) Van Meeteren, Alice (Ray) Van Heuvelen, Jennie (Henry) Oldenkamp, and Walter Van Meeteren.

I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me. ~ Philippians 4:13
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Ann (Zoerink) Van Meeteren, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, February 28, 2020

4:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

First Reformed Church

1101 7th St., Sheldon, IA 51201

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Service

Saturday, February 29, 2020

1:30 - 2:15 pm (Central time)

First Reformed Church

1101 7th St., Sheldon, IA 51201

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Burial

East Lawn Cemetery - Sheldon

700 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103

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