Margery Irene Van Hemert, 92, of Pella, died on October 13, 2016, at Vriendschap Village. Margery was born to Gerritt and Alice (Hoksbergen) Van Heukelom on October 29, 1923, near Leighton. She graduated from Pella High School in 1940 and then attended Central College for two years and received a teacher's certificate. She married the late Reuben E. Van Hemert on June 3, 1943, and they celebrated 70 years of marriage before Reuben passed away on April 28, 2014.

Margery taught all eight elementary grades in a one-room schoolhouse for two years at South Porterville and Liberty Corner. Even though she retired from formal teaching after marriage, she remained a teacher at heart and was always a patient and skilled instructor whether teaching her children how to make a chocolate layer cake from scratch or her grandchildren how to golf. During retirement trips to Texas, she volunteered as a tutor at Donna Christian Academy helping children to improve their English language skills.

Margery obtained her real estate sales license and later her broker's license and was always available to help Reuben in a pinch at Van Hemert Real Estate, the business they owned together. She and Reuben loved to travel during retirement and made frequent trips to Hawaii and Texas.

Margery was an active member of Third Reformed Church. She sang in the choir and taught catechism and Sunday School classes when her children were young. She was a member of the Women's Federated Club, a leader in the Campfire Girl's organization and a hospice volunteer.

Her family wrote: "Mom demonstrated her strong faith through her actions whether stocking the freezer with chocolate chip cookies for visitors, reading Bible stories to her children at bedtime or spending an afternoon putting puzzles together and playing games with the grandkids."

Those left to cherish her memory are her children and their spouses: Stan and Judi Van Hemert of Sauk Centre, Minnesota; Keith and Chris Van Hemert of Pella; Mark Van Hemert of Aberdeen, Washington; Russell and Caryn Van Hemert of Pella; Marue and John White of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Lyle and Linda Van Hemert of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; her sister Alda Mae Hoekstra of Cherokee, Iowa, 20 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

Margery was preceded in death by her parents, Gerritt and Alice Van Heukelom; brother, Louis Van Heukelom; sisters, Nellie Kolenbrander, Jeanette Van Zante, and Elizabeth Van Zante; granddaughter, Leslie Van Hemert O'Bannon; and daughter-in-law, Sue Van Hemert.

Visitation

Noon, Sunday, October 16, 2016
4:00 – 6:00 P.M., Family Present
Garden Chapel Funeral Home, Pella, Iowa

Graveside Service

10:00 A.M., Monday, October 17, 2016
Oakwood Cemetery

Memorial Service

11:30 A.M., Monday, October 17, 2016
Third Reformed Church
Pella, Iowa

Memorials

Compassion International
Third Reformed Church - Mission Fund

Family

Husband: The late Reuben Van Hemert
Stanley and Judi Van Hemert - Sauk Centre, MN
Keith and Chris Van Hemert - Pella, IA
Mark Van Hemert - Aberdeen, WA
Russell and Caryn Van Hemert - Pella, IA
Marue and John White - Cedar Rapids, IA
Lyle and Linda Van Hemert - Sioux Falls, SD