Josephine De Vries Vander Leest was born on June 29, 1920, to Arie and Josie Beyer De Vries at the family home near Otley, Iowa. She passed away on Monday, October 19, 2009, at the Mahaska Hospital in Oskaloosa, Iowa, at the age of eighty-nine.

Josephine received her early education at a country school near her home completing the eighth grade.

On August 7, 1940, Josephine was united in marriage with Raymond Vander Leest at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They were blessed with five children: Ron, Karen, Dean, Rich, and Rayma.

Josephine had been a longtime member of the Third Reformed Church in Pella.

She enjoyed being a homemaker and would often be found in the kitchen preparing meals for her family, baking cookies and homemade bread. She liked to go fishing, family Christmas gatherings, gardening, reading, vacationing in Colorado and was proud of her pig collection. She loved her home and family.

After Raymond passed away in 1994, Josephine remained in her home as long as her health permitted. In 2002 she moved to Vriendschap Village in Pella. She recently moved to the Oskaloosa Care Center.

Those left to cherish her memory are her five children; twelve grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; her sister: Edith Kuiper of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and two sisters-in-law: Edith De Vries and Gertrude De Vries both of Pella.

Preceding her in death: her husband Raymond in 1994, six brothers; one sister; and her son-in-law John Newendorp.

FUNERAL SERVICES

10:30 A.M., Thursday, October 22, 2009
Third Reformed Church
Pella, Iowa

VISITATION

Beginning at noon Wednesday, October 21, 2009
with family present 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Wednesday
Garden Chapel Funeral Home
Pella, Iowa

MEMORIALS

American Cancer Society

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