Judy Ver Meer, 76, passed away on Sunday evening, Jan. 29, 2017, at her residence in Pella. Funeral services were held Thursday, Feb. 2, at 10:30 a.m. at First Christian Reformed Church, Pella. Interment was in the Black Oak Cemetery at Pella. Memorial contributions are suggested for the First Christian Reformed Church or the Pella Early Learning Center.
Judith Ellen Ver Meer was born Apr. 14, 1940, in her parents’ home near Pella. She was the second of seven children born to Jacob A. and Alyce (Zylstra) Ver Meer and was baptized in the First Christian Reformed Church of Pella, where she remained a member her entire life. She and her siblings – James, Eunice, Bertha, Glenda, Brenda, and Esther – grew up on the family farm east of Pella, where Judy much preferred helping with household duties over milking or other outdoor chores.
As the oldest daughter in a large family, Judy was a caregiver and helper from an early age. While she often shared that her best birthday gift were the twin sisters, Glenda and Brenda, who were born on her eighth birthday, she will be dearly remembered for the gift of caring she gave her family and others. After earning her degree from Pella Christian High School in 1958 and from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, Judy became a nurse at the Pella Medical Clinic in 1962. Originally working alongside Dr. Gene Van Zee and later Dr. Craig Wittenberg, Judy enjoyed a 42-year nursing career, and continued her legacy of caring for others throughout her retirement.
Judy was a selfless and devoted daughter, sister, and aunt, who adored her three generations of nieces and nephews. Self-disciplined and practical to the core, she was an unassuming example to the family she dearly loved. Judy was always “on-call” for her family, but also stood ready to serve a host of others, whether at church, in the many groups and clubs she was a part of, or at the Pella Early Learning Center. She often showed and shared her love through her amazing gifts of quilting, knitting, and other handwork. Judy loved time spent with friends at knitting club, quilting club, card club, and classmate get-togethers. Her relationships with family and friends were always priority, with her church family ever dear to her heart. A devoted servant of the church, her most sincere commitment was to her Lord and Savior and living a life to honor Him.
Judy had an unconditional love for her family, including: Her brother Jim (Adonna) Ver Meer of Pella and their daughter Angie Verschuure; her sister Eunice (Gerald) De Vries of Modesto, CA, and their children: Alicia De Vries, Michael (Laura) De Vries, and Jeralyn (Ben) Belote; her sister Bert (Virgil) Terpstra of Pella and their children: Shelly (Rod) Sarver, Dan (Deb) Terpstra, and Jonquil (Rich) Turner; her sister Glenda (Dwight) Vander Leest of Sully, and their children: Jill Gruver, Luke (Karla) Vander Leest, Brady (Brianne) Vander Leest, and Ethan Vander Leest; her sister Brenda (Eldon) Nikkel of Sully and their children: Teri (Rob) Vos, Tami (Kent) Rynders, and Trixanna (Shawn) Wang; and her sister Esther (Ernie) Roose of Peoria and their children: Austin Roose, Jordan (Joy) Roose, Jameson (Lisa) Roose, and Jenessa (Luke) Ahrens; 55 great-nieces and great-nephews; two great-great-nephews; and one living aunt, Lee (Duco) Zylstra of Pella. Judy also parented two Vietnamese daughters, Le Thu Ca and Kathy Dao.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and nephews and nieces: Jason Ver Meer, Amanda Ver Meer, and twins Matthew and Jennifer Vander Leest.
