Carleen Joy Nyhuis

Rock Rapids, IA Carleen Nyhuis, age 59 of Rock Rapids, IA died Monday, December 29, 2014 at the Hospice Cottage in Luverne, MN after a brave 15 month battle with cancer.. Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday January 3, 2015 at Christian Reformed Church in Rock Rapids, IA with Rev. Cliff Hoekstra officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids. Visitation will be Friday January 2nd from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Christian Reformed Church in Rock Rapids. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to be used in charities of Carleens' choice which include, Gideon Bibles, Dickinson Valley Bible Camp, Hope Haven Women's Auxiliary, Christian Reformed Church of Rock Rapids and the Hospice Cottage of Luverne, MN. Carleen Joy was born February 26, 1955 to Lawrence and Elnora DeWild and was raised on a farm near Boyden and Hull, IA with her ten siblings. She graduated from Boyden-Hull in 1973. On March 8, 1974 she married Verlyn Nyhuis in Hull. Verlyn and Carleen lived in the Rock Rapids and Lester areas for 40 years. There they raised their twin daughters and two sons. Carleen first worked as a certified nurse's aide at Valley Manor in Rock Valley and at Lyon Manor and the Health Center in Rock Rapids. The last 18 years Carleen enjoyed the challenge of working in market research for NRECA. Carleen always worked hard with a cheerful spirit. She touched so many with her kindness and generosity. Carleen loved to encourage others with cards, gifts, and her time. Carleen had a heart of gold. She was an active member of Rock Rapids CRC and Hope Haven Auxiliary. She will be remembered as a wonderful sister, wife, mother and grandmother who treasured every single moment with her loved ones. It was a gift to be part of her life. Carleen's bible verse that she lived by everyday was Psalm 118:24 "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." She is survived by her husband Verlyn of 40 years; her children, Bonita (Mark) Steinhelper of Altoona, IA, Juanita (Kyle) Sieglinig of Brush, CO, Wade Nyhuis of Newark, IL, and Cory Nyhuis of Sioux Falls, SD. She is also survived by her 5 grandchildren, Caleb, Ellie, Rachel, Alex, and John; 8 brother and sisters, Ardis (Earl) Bonestroo of Sheldon, IA, Arlyn (Donna) DeWild of Hull, IA Lonna (Merlyn) Smeenk of Harrisburg, SD, Denise (Gary) Brunsting of Centennial, CO, Coral (Bill) Mulder of Tacoma, WA, Jarvis (Shari) DeWild of Hull, IA, and Laryl (Brenda) DeWild of Boyden, IA; brother, Eldon (LuAnn) DeWild of Hull, IA; and mother-in-law, Tillie Nyhuis of Rock Rapids, IA. Carleen was preceded in death by her parents; her father-in-law, John Nyhuis; three brothers-in-law, Robert Nyhuis, Leroy Foreman, and Larry Lyells; and one sister, Barbara Lyells.