Janice Ann Meinders

Janice Meinders, 72, of Oskaloosa passed away Wednesday afternoon, August 21, 2013, at Northern Mahaska Nursing and Rehab Center in Oskaloosa. Janice Ann Meinders, the daughter of William Albert “Bill” and Nellie (Neels) Veldhuizen, was born, January 30, 1941, at Mercy Hospital in Oskaloosa. The family lived in rural Mahaska County and Janice attended Red School and then Oskaloosa Christian School where she graduated 8th grade. She attended Oskaloosa High School where she was a 1959 graduate. While in high school, she worked at F.W. Woolworth’s department store. Soon after graduation, she was united in marriage to Raymond L. Meinders, June 18, 1959, at First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. Janice and Ray made their home on an acreage just outside of Oskaloosa on the Pella Highway. Janice was a stay-at-home mom while her children were young and after raising her children, she worked for 20 years at American Family Insurance with Phil Griffin until her retirement in October, 2003. Janice was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church where she and her husband served as Young People’s leaders. She also served as a Sunday school teacher, Calvinette leader and Friendship leader. In her later years she was a member of the Ladies Bible Hour. She also served as secretary for the I.S.U. Extension Council. Janice enjoyed music and played the piano and guitar, she sang in the Farm Bureau Ladies Chorus and the choir at her church. In addition to her music, Janice’s hobbies were embroidering and crocheting. Her greatest joys were her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her family includes her husband of 54 years, Raymond Meinders of Oskaloosa; two sons and a daughter-in-law: Kevin and Diana Meinders of Pleasant Hill and Brent Meinders of Los Angeles, California; a daughter and son-in-law, Valerie and Russ Sytsma of Oskaloosa; five grandchildren: Dana Ann (Ron) Robinson of Iowa City; Kandis Meinders of Warsaw, IN; Travis Meinders of Boston, Massachusetts; Eric (Jenna) Sytsma and Joshua (Cally) Sytsma, all of Oskaloosa; four great-grandchildren: Sophie, Nella and Tymen Robinson of Iowa City; and Cora Grace Sytsma of Oskaloosa; a sister, Elaine Malloy of Oskaloosa; a brother, Darryl Veldhuizen of San Antonio, Texas; two sisters-in-law: Eileen (Harold) Van Weelden and Janet (Thomas) Kelderman, all of Oskaloosa; and a niece and several nephews. In addition to her parents, Janice was preceded in death by an infant brother, Leon Veldhuizen; a brother-in-law, Kenneth D. Malloy and her parents-in-law, Tymen H. and Nellie Meinders. Funeral Service for Janice will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 26, 2013, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa with the Reverend Dale Visser officiating. A family prayer service will precede the funeral at 10:15 a.m. in the church fellowship hall. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., Sunday, at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will be present from 2-4 p.m. to greet visitors. Memorials may be made to Scleroderma Research Foundation. PDF Printable Version

Janice Ann Meinders

January 30, 1941 - August 21, 2013