Junella G. Beerends, 84, of Pella and formerly of Sully, passed away Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, at Vriendschap Village. Funeral services were held Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Interment was in Sully Cemetery. Memorials have been designated for Hospice of Pella or Vriendschap Village.
Junella Grace Vink was the second daughter of John and Anna Mae (Schuring) Vink, Jr. She was born on Jan. 1, 1934, at the family’s country home near Otley.
Junella attended Bunker Hill Country School near Otley and later attended and graduated from Pella Christian Grade School.
June 27, 1952, she was united in marriage to Myron Howard Beerends at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella.
After their marriage, Junella lived with her parents while Myron served in the military overseas. She worked at a local creamery and was responsible for wrapping packages of butter. Junella also worked at an egg factory for several years where she “candled” eggs.
After Myron returned from the service, they started their family. They had four children: Harlan Glen, Darlene Faye, Duane Owen, and Larry Laverne.
In 1956, Myron and Junella moved to Sully, where Myron owned and operated Sully Auto Body. Junella would lend a hand by driving to other towns to pick up parts, paint, and whatever else was needed at the body shop.
After her children were grown, Junella worked as a cook at Lynnville-Sully School for 15 years. She had the opportunity to see some of her grandchildren on a daily basis and did her best to give them a little extra whenever possible.
In 2009, Junella and Myron moved to Pella. Myron and Junella were married 57 years before Myron succumbed to Alzheimer's disease on Mar. 16, 2010.
Junella cherished spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In recent years, she enjoyed spending time watching hummingbirds as they hovered around her special feeders and playing Bingo with her friends at Vriendschap Village in Pella. Junella was never known to turn down an opportunity to go out to eat and especially loved her trips out for ice cream.
Junella is survived by four children: Harlan (Norma) Beerends of Sully, Darlene (Loren) Van Zanten of Pella, Duane Beerends and Larry Beerends, both of Altoona; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Junella was preceded in death by her husband, Myron H. Beerends; her parents, John and Anna Vink; her sister, Anna Mae and her husband Peter James Slycord; two nephews; her parents-in-law, Louis T. and Dirkie (Van Zomeren) Beerends; and the following brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Donald and Aletta Beerends, Louise and Ray Ryerkerk, and Evelyn and Clifford Jackson.
Junella had been a member of the Sully Christian Reformed Church for 50 years and at the present time was a member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella.
