Henrietta "Retta" (Zoet) Appel

Rock Rapids, IA     Henrietta (Zoet) Appel age 90, of Rock Rapids, IA died Friday, December 29, 2017 at Lyon Specialty Care in Rock Rapids, IA.     A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 AM Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at Jurrens Funeral Home in Rock Rapids, IA with Lowell Zoet officiating.  Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids.     Visitation will be Tuesday, January 2nd from 4:00 to 8:00 PM with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids.     In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Central Lyon School Foundation or the Animal Humane Society.     Henrietta was born December 1, 1927, in Rock Rapids, Iowa, on a small farm northeast of town. She was the first child of Henry Zoet, Sr., and Gertie (Bakker) Zoet. Henrietta attended Garland School #1 through the eighth grade, earning strong grades because of her love of learning and sheer determination and discipline. She worked alongside her parents and siblings on the farm and, as a teenager, also helped neighboring farm     families when their children were born. These experiences formed a foundation of her love for all children and animals – and the earth itself. On February 3, 1948, Retta, one of her many names of endearment, married John Appel at her family home with a celebration dance at the Rock Rapids Community Building. The young couple fell in love while John was home on furlough during WWII, and they remained committed to each other until he returned at war’s end. They moved to her parents’ farm, and for 17 years they raised livestock and crops, working with Wava and Henry Zoet, Jr., who lived next door, to build a successful farming operation, which exists to this day. In 1950, their only child, Marcia Appel (Vince Giorgi), arrived, and the twosome became a solid, happy threesome for years to come. In 1965, they moved into town, and Retta was recruited by Tony Sieperda to work in his grocery store, which later became Hy-Vee. She deeply enjoyed her work and the many people from her beloved community who traded there, especially the high-school students who worked there over the years. At the store, she earned the nickname “Henri”, and until her passing, townspeople frequently would address her that way. She also worked with John; his brother, Peter, his sister-in-law Jeanette (Dykers) Appel – Retta’s dear friend from childhood – and Bill and Mina DeVries, in the brothers’ business, A & A Clerking. Retta developed an eye for antique clocks, lace and other textiles, and dolls as she assisted in the many farm and estate sales. Later, Becky (Appel) Hasselmann and her husband, Leonard “Butch” Hasselmann, stepped into the family business. Retta and John enjoyed fishing, camping, community activities, and helping Hank and Wava during fall harvest. Throughout her life, Retta loved animals of all kinds, from the cattle on their farm to the three Pekingese dogs the couple coddled later in life. Over the years, she tamed several wild cats, providing them caring homes for years and years. She knew returning robins (because she fed them from her own hand,) and her yard and bountiful flowers created a haven for birds, squirrels, rabbits, butterflies, and many other creatures. Her gentle hands sported two green thumbs; she found happiness and absorption in tending to her flower beds and the ever-present vegetable garden. She mowed her own lawn until age 85 and still helped to weed the flowerbeds the summer of 2017. Retta was devoted to her husband, daughter, son-in-law, two grandchildren, her four siblings and their spouses, and her dearly loved nieces and nephews and their children, all of whom called her “Auntie”, perhaps her most-cherished moniker. Her house overflowed with their photos, letters, and cards – she never wanted to part with even one. She cared for her parents, and John’s as well, setting a fine example for the next generation. She supported church life, the dear students of Central Lyon Schools directly across the street from her home, and various fundraisers and charities. To her dying day, she set a glowing and modest example for her daughter and so many others. Marcia always will hear her mother’s lilting voice: “Good morning, darling, hear the birds singing, see the sun shining.” It seemed to so many that Retta perfectly balanced her giving and her independent spirits.      Survivors include daughter Marcia, son-in-law Vincent Giorgi, granddaughter Gina Giorgi, grandson Anthony Giorgi and his wife, Allison Arling Giorgi; brothers and sisters-in-law Henry Zoet Jr. and Wava Zoet of Rock Rapids, and Garret and Vivian Zoet of Byron, IL; sisters and brothers-in-law Jeanette (Zoet) and Dick Van Wettering of Enumclaw, WA, and Evelyn (Zoet) and Jerome Larson of Eden Prairie, MN; sisters-in-law Jeanette Appel of Mankato, MN, and Katie (Appel) Van Olst of Rock Rapids; cousin and confidante Eldora Krull; nieces Roscha Zoet, Cathy Manning, Julie Smithson, and Patty Appel, and nephews Lowell Zoet, Brian Larson, Gary Zoet, Jim Zoet, Brad Van Wettering, Warren Van Wettering, Doug Appel, Randall Appel, and Robert Appel.      Henrietta was preceded in death by her love, John Appel; parents Gertie and Henry Zoet, Sr.; parents-in-law Jenny and Peter Appel, Sr., brother-in-law Peter Appel, Jr.; nephew David Zoet, and niece Becky Hasselmann.