Helen (Blom) Vander Waal daughter of Antonie and Josie (Ver Ploeg) Blom was born April 17, 1918 on a farm in Marion County, Iowa. She attended North Porterville Country School through the eighth grade. She stayed home helping her mother with cooking and housework and her father with dairy farming. She made public confession of her faith on November 14, 1937, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella. She was united in marriage to Elmer Ray Vander Waal on October 10, 1940. To this union three children were born: Robert, Judy and Charles. Their first home was on a rented farm near Leighton, Iowa. When the farm was sold they rented another small farm near Pella. In 1958, they purchased an acreage three miles east of Pella. Helen was a homemaker, served hot lunches in various Pella Community Schools and helped with the farming. Her hobby was making scrap books. Elmer and Helen were members of the Third Reformed Church for many years. In 1954, they became faithful members of Trinity Reformed Church where Helen attended Circle meetings and taught a children's Sunday school class. Helen enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and was always happy to see them. Helen moved into the Pella Manor on May 13, 2009 and enjoyed living there playing games and having coffee time with her neighbors and friends. Those left to cherish her memory are her three children, ten grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren. Helen is also survived by a brother Lawrence (Irene) Blom of Pella, and a sister Lenora Pleima of Pella. She was preceded in death by her husband Elmer in 2007, parents, great grandson Luke Kretzinger, brother Ernest Blom, sister-in-law Mary Jane Blom, and brother-in-law Albert Pleima. Family: Robert and Marilyn Vander Waal, Pella Sheryl and Jim Miller, Ames Bryce, Janae, DJ Glenda and Rob Kretzinger, Johnston Matt, Elise, Alison Brent and Esther Vander Waal, Johnston Lewis, Lauren Brad and Lesley Vander Waal, Midland, Michigan Drew, Reed, Ruby Judy and the late Ron Van Rees, Des Moines Kristin and Jeff Siewert, Pella Zach, Cole Mike and Sarah Van Rees, Ankeny Caleb, Olivia, Lilly Susan and Fred Van Geest, Minneapolis, Minnesota Julia, Luke Charles and Marla Vander Waal, Pella Tricia and Dan Vermeer, Pella Brant, Isaac, Jack, Ella Todd and Emily Vander Waal, Pella Teagen, Anna, Nathan Crystal and Jeff Namminga, Pella Jasmine, Sydney, Addison, Andrew

Funeral Service

10:30 AM, Saturday, September 5, 2015
Trinity Reformed Church
Pella, Iowa

Visitation

12:00 PM, Friday, September 4, 2015
Family present 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Trinity Reformed Church
Pella, Iowa

Memorials

Wesleylife at The Cottages