Norene Vanderstoep

Rock Rapids, IA

     Norene Van Der Stoep age 82 of Rock Rapids, Iowa died Saturday, May 4, 2024 at Lyon Specialty Care in Rock Rapids.

     Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at Christian Reformed Church in Rock Rapids with Pastor Doug De Groot, officiating. Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery at Rock Rapids.

     Visitation will be Monday, May 6th from 4:00 to 7:00 PM with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 at the Christian Reformed Church in Rock Rapids.

     Norene Janice Van Der Stoep was born July 3, 1941, the daughter of Ralph and Tillie (Damstra) Dykstra. She grew up near Archer, Iowa with her four siblings and graduated from Archer High School in 1959.

     On February 17, 1961, Norene was united in marriage to Edwin “Bud” Van Der Stoep in Sheldon, Iowa. They were blessed with four children. Bud and Norene lived near Archer, IA for the first few years of marriage. They later moved to Rock Rapids, IA, which became their permanent home.

     Norene was a devoted farm wife and mother. She later became an administrative assistant at the Rock Rapids Health Centre, after their children were grown.  She was an active member of the Rock Rapids Christian Reformed Church and was involved in multiple church groups and organizations. She loved to travel, camp, and spend time with family. Norene and Bud also enjoyed wintering in Arizona in their later years and made many good friends while they were there.

     She was an excellent cook and will always be remembered as a gracious hostess who loved to feed you well. No one ever left hungry. People especially loved her pecan tasies, pecan pie and potato salad.

     Norene enjoyed and appreciated nature. She and Bud would take long weekend drives just to see fall colors. She also relished in sunrises and sunsets.

  She loved to take pictures and no event went by without several photos. All were printed and saved. She so enjoyed looking at them over and over again.

     Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 63 years, Edwin “Bud” Van Der Stoep; children, Dawn Van Der Stoep (Mike Williams) of North Liberty, Doug (Mary) Van Der Stoep of Sioux Center, IA, Darla (Darwin) Timmer of Ellsworth, MN, Denise (Richard) Roskam of Rock Rapids, IA; 13 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; siblings, Joyce (Henry) Schmidt of Sheldon, IA and Henry (Carolyn) Dykstra of Archer, Iowa; along with many extended family and friends.

      She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Tillie; sisters, Charlotte (Dean) Schmidt and Sylvia (Peter) Wielenga.

    Blessed be her memory.

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