Margaret Menninga

Margaret Esther De Zwarte was born February 14, 1927, on a farm south of Pella, Iowa. She was the third of four children born to John and Marie (Goemaat) De Zwarte. Margaret received a grade school education at the Pleasant Grove Country School near her birthplace south of Pella. On February 14, 1947, she was united in marriage to Vernon D. Menninga, son of John S. and Margaret (Den Burger) Menninga. To this union seven girls were born: Twylah Sue, Marla Jean, Laura Beth, Lila Joy, Cynthia Lynn, Verla Ruth and a still born girl (Anita).  Following their marriage they farmed the Menninga family farm northwest of Pella. They lived on the farm until 1993 when they moved to their home in Pella.

Margaret loved to visit friends in their homes and in the nursing home. She could be seen walking through most of Pella well into her upper 80’s to visit the “old people” in the nursing home. She was a volunteer at Work of our Hands, cut lace for Heritage Lace, and made longtime friends with the ladies she assisted in keeping their homes clean. She loved to garden, knit and crochet, and spending time with her family.

Margaret was a member of Covenant Reformed Church, where she had participated in an adult Bible study group. 

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband Vernon of 74 years, and their family:

Twylah (Henry) Van Roekel

            Gary (Tricia) Van Roekel

                        Kate (Nick) Kruzich

                        Jesse Crozier (Abi Salazar fiancée)

                        Lindsie (Matt) Schacherer

                                    Samuel, Arabella

                        Nick Crozier, Elizabeth, Colton

                        Meghan (Dillon) Ponder

                        Dakota Jones, Jasmine Jones, Levi Jones

            Gwen Van Roekel

            Suzanne (Nick) Lenters

                        Gavin, Liam

            Stephanie (Daren) Van Kooten

                        Sean Franje, Kaden, Abigail

Marla (Chuck) Vander Waal

            Tricia (Dan) Vermeer

                        Brant (Kelsey), Isaac, Jack,  Ella         

            Todd (Emily) Vander Waal

                        Teagen, Anna, Nathan

            Crystal (Jeff) Namminga

                        Jasmine, Sydney, Addison, Andrew

Laura (Arvin) Vos

            Dale (Jennifer) Vos

                        Trinity, Treyton

            Jana Vos

            Brenda Vos (Derek Moyer fiancé)

                        Elizabeth Thomas, Beckett Moyer, Finley Moyer

Lila (Stanley) Boender

            Shellene Grubbs

                        Alexander, Luke (Kylie Shullaw fiancée)

            Justin (Michelle) Boender

                        Lane (Makayla)

                                    Everleigh, and baby on the way

                        Noah (Samantha)

                                    Jackson

                        Zechariah

            Scott (Crystal) Boender

                        Emmit, Sullivan

            James (Sara) Boender

                        Aubrey, Kayne

Cynthia (Mike) Arndt

            Jeremy (Corissa) Arndt

                        Nicholas, Collin

            Angie (Dennis) Parker

                        Isabella, Elliet

Verla (Greg) Bigbee

            Heather Vander Heiden

                        Gage, Brady, Kjersten, Jace

            Dustyn (Molly) Menninga

                        Henry, and baby on the way

            LaCosta (Jeremy) Van Dyk

                          Zarah, Ariana, Madyson, Alexander, Josiah, Izabella

            Morgan Bigbee

            Dakota Bigbee

                        Ava

Margaret is also survived by her brother Verlan (Betty) De Zwarte of Chariton, and her brother-in-law Arvan (Betty) Menninga of Pella.

She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter in infancy,  grandson Wayne Van Roekel,  great grandson Samuel Boender, grandson-in-law Rusty Grubbs; sisters: Jennie (Henry) Van Essen, and Dorothy (Tudor G.) Ver Meer; and her sister-in-law Janet (Arie) Van Waardhuizen.

Thank you for the exceptional care given by the staff of the Oskaloosa Care Center.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.