Edna G. Fynaardt, 81, of Sully, passed away Tues-day, Mar. 15, 2016, at St. Francis Manor, Grinnell, following declining memory skills. Prior to this, Edna had been attended to faithfully by her husband, Leland, for nearly 61 years. Funeral services were held Monday, Mar. 21, at Sully Christian Reformed Church. Interment was in Sully Cemetery. Memorials have been designated for Sully Christian School.
Edna Geraldine Engelhoven was born Nov. 7, 1934, in Mahaska County near Oskaloosa. She was the fifth of six children born to John and Engelene (De Kock) Engelhoven. She received her elementary school education in Oskaloosa and graduated from Oskaloosa High School. During high school, Edna was one of two top typists and also took shorthand. For two years, she was the secretary for the superintendent of Oskaloosa schools.
Edna and Leland Eugene Fynaardt met while roller skating in Oskaloosa. They were united in marriage on May 5, 1955, at the Central Reformed Church. Edna and Leland spent 52 years on the same farm northwest of Searsboro. They put all five of their children through Sully Christian School and Pella Christian High School.
Edna was a faithful wife and devoted mother. She enjoyed sewing, playing the piano, gardening, and refinishing furniture. She and Leland were privileged to do a lot of traveling together and had special memories of their trips to Egypt and Holland. As an infant, Edna was baptized at Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa where she made profession of her faith at an early age. She later became a member of Sully Christian Reformed Church where she was a member of the J.O.Y. Society, had been a Calvinette/GEMS leader, a member of the church choir, and often used her skills typing the church newsletter. She had been chairperson for the Farm Bureau Women and active with the Sully Christian School Circle.
Edna is survived by her husband Leland and was a godly example to their 11 grandchildren and five children: Gary (JoAnn) Fynaardt of Searsboro, Glen (Sandy) Fynaardt of New Sharon, Stan (Cheryl) Fynaardt of Pella, Alice Fynaardt of Des Moines, and Retha (Ray) Haas of Coralville.
Edna’s family has grown to include 16 great-grandchildren; and of her original family she leaves one sister, Shirley (Jerry) Bruxvoort of Oskaloosa; and a brother-in-law, Harold Vogelaar of Arizona; along with brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Kenneth and Marge Fynaardt of Pella, Carolyn and Bill Heethuis of Caledonia, MI, Carol (Melvin) Fynaardt of New Sharon, and Dona (Leo) Fynaardt of Oskaloosa.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a grandson Brian Fynaardt; her sisters: Laura and husband, George Slagter, and Neva Vogelaar; her brothers: Virgil Engelhoven and wife Jeanette, Harley Engelhoven and wife Ann; her parents-in-law Tunis and Cobie (Rozenboom) Fynaardt; and brothers-in-law: Melvin and Leo Fynaardt, and Allen Van Zee.
Although Edna’s memory had failed, she will be remembered as a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother, who devoted her life to raising a godly family.
