Arlene Mae Vander Leest was born Aug. 21, 1934, to Jacob and Matje (Van Arkel) Laverman in Sully. She passed away Jan. 4, 2026, at Park Center in Newton at age 91. Visitation will be 9-10:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 9, at Sully Community Church followed by funeral service at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to: East Iowa Bible Camp, Sully Community Church Missions, or Lynnville-Sully Community Edu-cation Foundation.
June 25, 1953, Arlene was united in marriage to Arland Vander Leest in Sully. To this union three sons were born: Randy, Brent, and Kirk.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of 72 years, Arland of Sully; and their three sons: Randy (Joyce) Vander Leest of Woodward, Brent (Sheila) Vander Leest of Sully, and Kirk (Maggie) Vander Leest of Downers Grove, IL; nine grandchildren: Neal (Rochelle) Vander Leest, Amy Navrkal, Adam (Lori) Vander Leest, Jamie (JJ) Linderman, Tyler Vander Leest, Greta Vander Leest, Olivia Vander Leest, Jacob Vander Leest, and Owen Vander Leest; and 12 great-grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Merlyn (Dorothy) Vander Leest, Duane Vander Leest, Sandra (Daniel) Vande Krol, and Warren (Mary) Vander Leest.
Arlene was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law Walter and Irene Vander Leest; brother Clarence Laverman; sister Catherine De Penning; and brother-in-law and sisters-in-law: Pauline Laverman, Wilbur De Penning, and Karen Vander Leest.
