Cynthia Langstraat was born the youngest of seven children on October 3, 1942, to Floris and Marie (Fynaardt) Vander Schaaf, in Mahaska County, Iowa.

She grew up on the family farm southeast of Oskaloosa where Cynthia attended Red Country School, the Oskaloosa Christian Grade School, and  graduated in 1960 from Pella Christian High School. Cynthia was baptized in the Oskaloosa Christian Reformed Church. She publicly professed her faith in Jesus Christ at First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa.

Cynthia met Junior around the square in Osky on a Sunday night.  The two were married on November 11, 1960, at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church. God blessed them with four children: Lois Jeanne, Luane Joy, Lisa Marie and Jason Todd. Cynthia loved the farm and worked side-by-side with Junior caring for the baby animals. After raising her family, she worked 20 years at Pella Regional Hospital in the laundry department.

She prayed for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved the Lord, her family, playing organ and her flowers.

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

Lois De Ruiter, Robins, Iowa

Melissa and Dustin Carlson

Mae

Drew and Laura De Ruiter

Avery

Luane and Matt Mills, Pella, Iowa

Audra and Andrew Turner

Violet, Scarlett

Leah and Jeff Mills-Sanders

Roxy, Jackson, Joya

Zane Mills

Lisa Brandhof, Otley, Iowa

Daniel and Ahna Brandhof

Karsyn, Payton

Austin and Autumn Brandhof

Marley, Ayden

Jason and Tabitha Langstraat, Otley, Iowa

Triston Langstraat

Teagan Langstraat

Cynthia is also survived by her sister Leona (Mart) Nunnikhoven.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her parents-in-law Henry and Nellie Langstraat, an infant sister, her sisters: Marjorie (Mose) Van Mersbergen, and Harriet (Abe) Nunnikhoven; and brothers: Marvin (Tressa) Vander Schaaf and Seymour Vander Schaaf.

American Bible Society