Sylvia M. Van Genderen, of Sully, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015, at Park Centre in Newton shortly after celebrating her 86th birthday. Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 21, at Sully First Reformed Church. Interment was in the Sully Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be designated for The Legacy Building Fund at Sully First Reformed Church.
Sylvia Mae Vander Beek was born in Sully on Dec. 10, 1929. She was a daughter of Antonie P. and Tunnie (Goemaat) Vander Beek. Sylvia attended school in Sully from kindergarten through high school, where she graduated in 1948. While in high school, she dated Claris Eugene Van Genderen and also began working at Sully Community Lockers. On Mar. 14, 1950, she and Claris were united in marriage at Sully First Reformed Church and to this union two daughters were born: Mary Ann on Feb. 9, 1951, and Laura Lee on Jan. 18, 1952. Sylvia began working for the Sully Telephone Association in 1954 and continued working there and at the locker part-time until her retirement in 2004.
Music was always a very important part of Sylvia’s life. She was a lifelong member of Sully First Reformed Church. She sang for many weddings and funerals and served as the youth choir director for many years and then directed the Alleluia Choir at the church. Following her retirement from directing, Sylvia continued to sing in the Alleluia Choir until Claris’ health declined. Claris passed away on Sept. 7, 2011, following a valiant battle with cancer. When Sylvia’s health prevented her from attending church, she kept up with the morning worship services through livestreaming on the computer after moving to Park Centre in Newton.
Sylvia leaves her two daughters: Mary Ann (Conrad) Van Maaren of Kellogg and Laura Lee (Gary) Creasy of Grinnell; four grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren: Sara (Duane) Matthess and their children: Tavius, Tate, Isabelle, and Landon of Cedar Rapids, Rev. Paul (Courtney) Van Maaren and their children: Hannah, Olivia, and Ella of Sheldon, Leah (Rick) Carolan and their children: Zadok and Isaiah of Cedar Rapids, and Joel (Katy) Van Maaren and their children: Hadleigh and Reid of St. Louis, MO. Of her original family, Sylvia leaves just one sister-in-law, Joyce (Dick) Ver Ploeg, Jr. of Sully; along with many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Claris Van Genderen; her parents; her two sisters and a brother and their spouses: Pearl and Nelson Terpstra, Verna and Glen Elscott, Abraham and Sara Rose Vander Beek; her parents-in-law, Leonard and Jennie (Brand) Van Genderen; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lucille and Vernon Huyser.
