Carrie Kay Van Walbeek was born as Gerritje Verhoef on January 8, 1932, as the youngest of 8 children to Willem III and Jannetje (van der Lee) Verhoef, in Baambrugge, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Carrie grew up on a dairy farm and attended the Christian School in Baambrugge plus studied home economics in Amsterdam. Later she completed Red Cross training, worked for the Red Cross and studied cheese making.

Carrie met Tunis Van Walbeek at a military homecoming celebration party when Tunis returned from Indonesia.. They were married on April 16, 1952, in Baambrugge and immigrated to Iowa that summer. They were blessed with four children: Cornie, Wayne, Cathy and Greg who recall growing up with life centered around family, farm, school and church. Carrie was a loving wife and helpmate to Tunis for nearly 70 years as together they farmed in various communities including Flagler, Ottumwa, Attica, Peoria, then settling on their farm east of Monroe until retiring to Pella in 1999. Carrie was always the keeper of the farm and family records. She is lovingly known as Oma to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Through the years they were members of the Christian Reformed churches in Tracy, Cedar, Peoria,, Pella 1st CRC where Carrie was involved in the Ladies Societies. Tunis and Carrie were charter members of Faith Christian Reformed Church and continued to attend regularly. Carrie was a member of the Faith CRC Ladies Society and Pella Christian High Auxiliary for many years.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband Tunis, and their family:

Cornie and Gretchen Van Walbeek

Mia and Joe (deceased) Countryman

Sylvia Visser (Cam Schneider)

Jasper Countryman

Lance Conner

Brodie Conner

James Conner

Micole Van Walbeek

Ava Ogletree

Ross and Haley Eveland

Aubrie Eveland

Skyler and Katie Van Walbeek

Kaylea Van Walbeek

Faith Van Walbeek

Wayne and Karen Van Walbeek

Joseph Cornelius Van Walbeek (deceased)

Katrina and Jeff Heater

Payton Harsch

Mia Harsch

Layla Harsch

Holden Heater

Cody and LaDonna Van Walbeek

Sloane Van Walbeek

Conner and Abigail Van Walbeek

Evan Van Walbeek

Cathy and Jaren Steenhoek

Jeremy and Sarah Steenhoek

Jocelyn Steenhoek

Jacob Steenhoek

Curtis and Jessica Steenhoek

Isaac Steenhoek

Lily Steenhoek

Cora Steenhoek

Greg and Marti Van Walbeek

Regen Van Walbeek (Sarah Fehlberg)

Carissa Van Walbeek (Thierry Habishuty)

In addition to her family, Carrie is survived by her sisters-in-law: Stiny, Corrie and Willy, and her brothers-in-law: Jan and Bert along with many nieces and nephews to whom she is known as Tante Gerrie, the hugging aunt.

Carrie was preceded in death by her parents Willem III and Jannetje Verhoef, her parents-in-law Cornelis and Wilhelmina van Walbeek-van Dien, grandson Joseph Cornelius Van Walbeek, grandson-in-law Joe Countryman, and her brothers and sisters: William, Harmen, Marretje, Jan, Simon, Jannetje, Neeltje and their spouses.

Pella Christian Schools
Pella IA 50219

Faith Christian Reformed Church
Pella IA