Loretta Van Zee

Loretta Mae Van Zee was born March 26, 1924, to Andrew and Ella (Roorda) Boat, at her parents’ home in Pella. She attended country schools in Marion and Jasper County, and was a 1943 graduate of Monroe High School.

On November 22, 1943, Loretta was united in marriage with Clarence M. Van Zee at the Otley Reformed Church parsonage. To this union their daughter Andrea was born.

Loretta worked as a bookkeeper for Clarence and his brother Lester’s business, Van Zee Plumbing, later Van Zee Culligan. Later, she worked in the fabric department at Lee’s Variety. Clarence and Loretta organized and led senior citizen bus tours across the U.S. and Canada. They enjoyed taking their grandchildren, Clarice and Greg along with them on many of their trips. They retired in 1986. Loretta was a long-time member of the Otley Reformed Church where she was active in the Bound with Love quilting group.  Loretta felt very blessed to be able to meet and get to know her great-grandchildren.

Those left to cherish her memory are:

Andrea and Gary Beekhuizen

            Clarice and Glenn Meinders

                        Maria, Gerrit

            Greg and Katie Beekhuizen

                        Graham, Aliza, Amelia, Callan, Griffin

Loretta is also survived by her brother-in-law Lester Van Zee.

Loretta was preceded in death by her husband Clarence, her parents Andrew and Ella Boat, and her siblings and siblings-in-law: Marion and Marie Boat, Ethel and Dick Uitermarkt, Earnest, Dot, and Evelyn Boat, Leota and Hessel Van Zante, Floyd and Avis Boat, Robert Boat in infancy, Lucille and Ralph Van Wyk, and Gertrude Van Zee.

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