Irene Vander Leest, 100, of Pella and formerly of Sully, died Nov. 15, 2015. Funeral ser-vices were held Saturday, Nov. 21, at Sully Community Church. Memorials have been designated for Sully Community Church Building Fund, Wesley Life Hospice, and Hospice of Pella.
Irene Fern Vander Leest was born to Paul and Gertie (Van Genderen) Vander Kamp on Feb. 14, 1915, near Sully. She attended country schools in the Sully area through the eighth grade.
On Mar. 15, 1934, she was united in marriage to Walter Vander Leest in Sully. To this union, five children were born. Irene and Walter lived their entire married life in Sully. Irene helped Walt in the trucking business and handled the bookwork for him even into her later years. Irene loved traveling and going out to eat, and she was also a great cook who was known for her fried chicken and potato salad. She was an avid Hawkeye fan, even though six of her grandchildren attended Iowa State! Irene enjoyed spending time outdoors doing yard work and gardening. Irene loved and cared for her family, especially the little grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Irene was a dedicated wife who visited Walt in the nursing home every day.
Irene accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at a young age and was in happy fellowship with those gathered in the name of the Lord at rural Sully and in her later years attended the Sully Community Church.
Irene is survived by her five children: Arland (Arlene) Vander Leest of Sully, Merlyn (Dorothy) Vander Leest of Pella, Duane Vander Leest of Sully, Sandra (Daniel) Vande Krol of Sully, and Warren (Mary) Vander Leest of Sully; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings: Ruby (Ralph) Van Wyk of Sully, Vernon Vander Kamp of Sacramento, CA, Neva Lanser of Sully, and sister-in-law Jeanette Vander Kamp of Newton.
Irene was preceded in death by her husband Walter in 2002; parents; daughter-in-law, Karen Vander Leest; brothers: Cleo Vander Kamp, Milo Vander Kamp, and Floyd Vander Kamp; sisters-in-law, Velma Vander Kamp and Maurine Vander Kamp; and brothers-in-law, LaVerne Van Zante and Harry Lanser.
