Edna J. Van Ee

Edna Jean “E.J.” Goemaat was born June 20, 1928, to Tunis and Alice (Rouw) Goemaat, at home, in Kirkville, Iowa.  At the age of five, her mother died. Edna, her older brother, Alvin, and younger sister Sylvia, lived with relatives along with their father 2½ miles west of Leighton, Iowa. A couple of years later, her father married a very Godly woman, Rachel. A new mother had come into Edna’s life and at the age of 13, Edna accepted Christ as her personal Savior.

Edna went to country school but attended and graduated from Pella High School in 1946. She furthered her education by earning her teaching certificate at Central College. She taught at Black Oak and Scott Center, K-8th grade. Her half-sister, Donna, was one of her 3rd grade students. Edna loved teaching, organizing, and being a leader.

In 1948, Edna married Dale Van Wyk. They lived on a farm by Leighton for four years where Linda Kay and Lloyd Dale were born. Edna was a hard worker getting up at 4:30am to help milk the cows. She also cooked and did the laundry for a hired hand that lived with them as well. In 1952, Dale and Edna moved to the family farm west of Monroe. It was here that 2 more children, Larry Edwin and Lee Eugene were born. With their growing family, Edna also had a large garden and sewed clothes for them.

Edna was a member of the First Baptist Church and fulfilled her life with music. She was the pianist for over 20 years and enjoyed playing the key board later in life. She also served God by teaching Sunday School for many years.

Family was very important to Edna. When their youngest son, Lee, was diagnosed with cancer, Edna stayed by his side taking care of him day and night. After Lee passed, Edna wrote a book, “Mom I’m Home” sharing what she had experienced as a parent.

Edna excelled at many things including chocolate! She loved to play checkers and was almost always a winner. She got her pilots license and enjoyed flying Dale to cattle sales.  Later in life, she hit a HOLE-IN-ONE while playing golf at the Pella Country Club. Edna also sold real estate in the Pella/Monroe area for several years. 

Edna was married to Dale for 36 years. In 1987, Edna married Vernon Van Ee of Pella. They were married for 25 years until Vernon passed away. Winters were enjoyed by going down to Texas for 17 years.  They also enjoyed playing cards several times a day, golfing, going to music events and of course going out to eat with their coupons. Ha! 

Edna was a very determined woman and enjoyed living life to the fullest. The past eight years were a challenge as she endured many setbacks with her health.

Edna passed peacefully and somewhat unexpectedly into God’s Glory three days short of her 90th birthday.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter Linda (Keith) Roorda, daughter-in-law Shelene Van Wyk, and son Larry (Cindy) Van Wyk.

Edna was blessed with eight grandchildren: Amy (Brian) Mitchell, Alex (Darci) Roorda, Eric (Kris) Van Wyk, Angie (Tom) Brinkman, Jessica (Cory) Allan, Brandon Van Wyk, Amber (John) Schubert, Ashley (Cole) Van Ryswyk; and two step grandchildren Jeremy (Kristin) Klein and Jennifer Klein.

Edna also leaves her precious legacy of 21 great-grandchildren along with her sister, Donna De Jong, sister-in-law Freda Goemaat, and many nieces and nephews.

Edna was preceded in death by her parents: Tunis, Alice, and step mother Rachel Goemaat, her husband Vernon Van Ee, her sons Lloyd Van Wyk and Lee Van Wyk, and her siblings: Alvin Goemaat, and Sylvia Laird.

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