Irene Fern Vander Leest was born to Paul and Gertie (Van Genderen) Vander Kamp, on February 14, 1915, near Sully, Iowa. She attended country schools in the Sully area through the eighth grade.

On March 15, 1934, she was united in marriage to Walter Vander Leest in Sully. To this union, five children were born: Arland, Merlyn, Duane, Sandra, and Warren. Irene and Walter lived their entire married life in Sully. Irene helped Walt in the trucking business and handled the bookwork for him even into her later years. Irene loved traveling and going out to eat, and she was also a great cook who was known for her fried chicken and potato salad. She was an avid Hawkeye fan, even though six of her grandchildren attended Iowa State! Irene enjoyed spending time outdoors doing yard work and gardening. Irene loved and cared for her family especially the little grandchildren, great grandchildren and her great-great grandchildren. Irene was a dedicated wife who visited Walt in the nursing home every day.

Irene accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior at a young age and was in happy fellowship with those gathered to the name of the Lord at rural Sully and in her later years attended the Sully Community Church.

In addition to her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, Irene is survived by her siblings: Ruby (Ralph) Van Wyk of Sully, Vernon Vander Kamp of Sacramento, Neva Lanser of Sully, and sister-in-law Jeanette Vander Kamp of Newton.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband Walter in 2002, parents, daughter-in-law Karen Vander Leest, brothers: Cleo Vander Kamp, Milo Vander Kamp, and Floyd Vander Kamp; sisters-in-law Velma Vander Kamp, Maurine Vander Kamp; and brothers-in-law LaVerne Van Zante and Harry Lanser.

Family:
Arland and Arlene (Laverman)Vander Leest of Sully
Randy and Joyce Vander Leest
Neal and Jody Vander Leest
Amy and Kevin Navrkal
Jude and John
Adam and Lori Vander Leest
Colt and Reed
Brent and Sheila Vander Leest
Jamie and Mat Wyngarden
Blake and Brodie
Tyler Vander Leest
Kirk and Maggie Vander Leest
Greta Vander Leest
Olivia Vander Leest
Jacob Vander Leest
Owen Vander Leest

Merlyn and Dorothy (Vande Krol) Vander Leest of Pella
Mark Vander Leest
Joshua Vander Leest
Paige Vander Leest
Drew Vander Leest
Lori and Doug Wenzel
Karl Wenzel
Piper Wenzel
Jack Wenzel
Craig and Sara Vander Leest
Kate Vander Leest
Benjamin Vander Leest
Ryne Vander Leest

Duane and the late Karen (La Benne) Vander Leest of Sully
Susan Abbott
Samantha Abbott
Karina Abbott
Troy and Michelle Vander Leest
Alexa Vander Leest
Taylor Vander Leest
Gage Vander Leest

Sandra and Daniel Vande Krol of Sully
Scott and Kris Vande Krol
Nicholas Vande Krol
Annika Vande Krol
Lisa and David Jansen
Caleb Jansen
Holden Jansen
Korrine Jansen

Warren and Mary (Caster) Vander Leest of Sully
Justin and Christa Vander Leest
Maci Vander Leest
Jace Vander Leest
Angela and Mark Van Roekel
Henry Van Roekel
Cason Van Roekel
Cora Van Roekel

Funeral Service

10:30 AM, Saturday, November 21, 2015
Sully Community Church
Sully, Iowa

Visitation

1:00 P.M., Friday, November 20, 2015
Family present 5:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Sully Community Church

Memorials

Sully Community Church Building Fund
Wesley Life Hospice
Hospice of Pella