Funeral services for Gretta Veenstra, 87, of Pella, were held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at Peoria Christian Reformed Church. Interment followed at Oakwood Cemetery, Pella. Memorials have been designated for Peoria Christian School, Pella Christian Schools, and Peoria Christian Reformed Church.
Gretta Veenstra was born Feb. 7, 1937, to Richard and Gertie (Vander Molen) Veenstra in Taintor. She passed away Aug. 21, 2024, at The Cottages in Pella.
Gretta attended Peoria Christian Grade School and was a 1954 graduate of Pella Christian High School. She went on to attend Central College and Drake University, and graduated from Calvin University. Gretta’s first job after college was teaching kindergarten, first, and second grade at Peoria Christian School, then she taught for six years at Christian schools in Chicago, next she moved to Florida where she taught at Lakeworth Christian School for three years, before moving back to Pella where she taught at Pella Christian Grade School for 33 years. She taught at Apples of Gold until recently.
Gretta was a member of Peoria Christian Reformed Church, where she taught Sunday School and Bible School, and participated in Bible Searches and Ladies Group.
Gretta enjoyed going for walks, reading, and traveling to many places in the U.S. and overseas. She also enjoyed going to Pella Christian basketball games.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sister Bernice (Veenstra) Van Soelen of Grinnell and sister-in-law Marilyn (De Cook) Veenstra of Pella.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Wilbur Veenstra, John and Donna Veenstra, and Marion Veenstra; and her brother-in-law Ralph Van Soelen.
