Wilbert Hollander

George, IA Wilbert Hollander, age 81 of George, IA died Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at Sanford Sheldon Medical Center in Sheldon, IA. Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22nd at St. John Lutheran Church of rural Boyden, IA. Burial will follow in St. John Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday, March 21st from 2:00 " 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 5:00 " 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of George. Wilbert Victor John Hollander was born October 26, 1926, on a farm in Lyon County Iowa south of George, the son of Klaus and Sophia (Bahlke) Hollander. Wilbert was raised on a farm north of Boyden. He attended St. John Christian Day School through the eighth grade. After his education he helped on the farm. In 1951, Wilbert was inducted into the United States Army, where he served from 1951 until 1953. He was stationed in Mannheim, Germany during the Korean Conflict. Upon his honorable discharge he returned home to farm. Wilbert was united in marriage to LaVonne Lois Meyn on August 27, 1954, at St. John Lutheran Church at Boyden, IA. They lived on a farm near Boyden for thirty-seven years and spent two years on a farm in Minnesota. Wilbert and LaVonne have lived in George for the past fifteen years. During his life he farmed for twenty-five years, worked for Land O Lakes of Sheldon for ten years and Sudenga Industries of George for nine years. He served on St. John Lutheran Church council, Christian Day School Board and faithfully attended church and Sunday school. He was an active member of Kiwanis for many years. After retirement, he faithfully dedicated his time to the Hope Haven Wheelchair Mission. He and LaVonne enjoyed bus trips and their trip to Alaska along with many fishing trips over the years with family and friends. Wilbert made excellent beef jerky, which all the grandchildren coveted. He also enjoyed cooking soup and watching baseball. This past Tuesday morning, March 18, 2008, Wilbert went to be with his savior in heaven. Wilbert died at the Sanford Sheldon Medical Center at the age of eighty-one. He is survived by his wife of fifty-three years, LaVonne Lois Hollander of George; two daughters, Sheryl Tiedeman and her husband, Warren of George; and Cindy Halverson and her husband, Mark of Linn Grove, IA; two sons, David Hollander of George and Darren Hollander of Boyden; seven grandchildren, Alicia Klaassen and her husband, Wade of Brandon, SD; Cassie Gusso and her husband, Trent of Sioux Falls, SD; Emily Battey and her husband, Shaun of Sioux Falls, SD; Sara Halverson and her fianc, Christopher Legore both of Ames, IA; Philip Tiedeman of Midland, TX and his fianc, Katie Chmielewski of Colorado Springs, CO; Benjamin Hollander of Baltimore, MD; and Joel Tiedeman of George; two great grandchildren, William Klaassen of Brandon, SD and Hudson Battey of Sioux Falls, SD; sisters, Elsie Kruse of Spirit Lake, IA; Lucille (Vinton) Hayden of Sioux City, IA; Brother, Lyle (Lorna) Hollander of Boyden, IA; sister, Deanna (Dennis) Tiedeman of Hull, IA; and sister-in-law, Lois Hollander of Boyden, IA. Wilbert was preceded in death by his parents, Klaus and Sophia Hollander; step-mother, Mary Hollander; infant sister, Margaretha Hollander; brother, Waldo Hollander; and brother-in-law, Albert Kruse.