Ilda Lou Van Zee, 93, of Pella, went to her eternal home on May 15, 2024, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House. A Celebration of Life Service was held at 11 a.m., Monday, May 20, at Trinity Church, Pella. Interment at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella preceded the service. Memorials may be directed to Trinity Church or Hospice of Pella.
Ilda Lou Mol was born on Sunday, Mar. 22,1931, at the home of her parents Jake and Agnes Rose (Hasselman) Mol in Sully. Her mother told her the church bells were ringing when she made her arrival; perhaps this was a sign that she would be involved musically in church throughout her life. Ilda Lou (as many Sully people called her) attended school in Sully and graduated from Sully High School in 1949 as valedictorian of her class of nine students. Ilda’s dream after high school was to attend Central College and obtain her teaching degree, but instead she decided perhaps she should make some money first and started a job in Newton working at an automatic washer company, and she also spent time working as a medical assistant in Sully. Eventually her dream of teaching was fulfilled in a different way through all the students she impacted with her piano lessons. She began taking piano lessons at age six, and at 15 became a piano teacher herself, giving lessons in her parents’ home and later in Pella.
She began to use her musical talents as an accompanist and organist at Sully First Reformed Church in 1949, the same year she was baptized and made confession of faith. Ilda Lou became the bride of LeRoy Allen Van Zee of Monroe on Nov. 13, 1951, at Sully First Reformed Church. They lived in Denver, CO, for 10 months while LeRoy was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base. She returned to Sully to live with her parents when LeRoy received an 18-month order for overseas duty in Okinawa. It was during this time their first child was born, a son Douglas Scott, who was 14 months old when LeRoy returned from overseas duty to see his son for the first time. They lived in Rantoul, IL, until LeRoy’s discharge in December 1954. They built their home at 1106 Peace Street in Pella and added two daughters to the family: Melody Sue in 1957 and Jill Ann in 1968. They became members of Trinity Reformed Church where Ilda was an organist beginning in 1956. She played the organ at her home church in Sully and at Trinity for 70 years and played for numerous weddings and funerals. She accompanied many small groups, directed the adult and junior choirs at church for several years, and taught piano to over a hundred students.
Ilda leaves behind a legacy of faith, hospitality, and service to others. She was a positive person and known for preparing wonderful meals and hosting many guests in her home. LeRoy often joked that they should have bought stock in Hallmark for all the cards she sent to so many people. She did not sit still for long and was referred to as the Energizer Bunny by some family members and friends. She was a dedicated friend to many.
Ilda leaves behind her three children and their families: Son Douglas (Marilyn) Van Zee of Pella and their children Scott and Brittany Van Zee of Sully and children Ivan Morgan and Evan Van Zee, Erin and Kyle Whalley of Liberty, MO, and children Nolan and Nicholas; daughter Melody (Tom) Miller of Winterset and children Emily and Miguel Mendez of Norwalk, Briela and Bianca; and daughter Jill (Sam) Vande Weerd of Pella, and children Bailey and Alex Van Roekel of Jupiter, FL, Avery, Ryker, and baby boy due in July, Zach and Hannah Vande Weerd of Waukee, and Ross Vande Weerd of Austin, TX.
She is also survived by her sister-in-law Ray and Joyce (Van Zee) Vos of Pella and two nieces and one nephew.
She was preceded in death by her husband LeRoy on Mar. 4, 2013, after 61 years of marriage; also by her parents, parents-in-law Bill and Bertha Van Zee, stepmother-in-law Etta Van Zee, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Helen (Van Zee) and Marvin Smith; and great-grandson Eli Douglas Van Zee.
She was a member of Joy Circle at Trinity, Pella Women’s Club, and Gideons Auxiliary, and a Reach to Recovery Volunteer for the American Cancer Society and a Hospice volunteer.
