Ellen Vermeer

Ellen Vermeer, age 97, of Sioux Center, Iowa, died on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at the Crown Pointe Estates Care Center in Sioux Center, Iowa.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Sunday, November 10, 2024, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at the Centerpoint Church in Sioux Center, Iowa.

A Celebration of her life will be held on Monday, November 11, at the Centerpoint Church. A family prayer service will be held at 9:00 am. Interment will follow the prayer service in the Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center. The Celebration Service will be held at 10:30 am at Centerpoint Church.

The Vermeer family prefers memorial gifts be directed to the Centerpoint Church Legacy Fund.

Ellen Jacoba Walraven was born on January 12, 1927, to Alden and Catherine (Peters) Walraven on a farm near Hospers. After a few years, the family moved to Sioux Center where Ellen attended Sioux Center Christian School through 8th grade and graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1944. In high school, she studied Office Practice and during her senior year she worked as an Intern with John Wesselink in the Wesselink Insurance office. She continued this work until her marriage to Irwin Richard Vermeer on August 24, 1948. At that time, she became a full-time farmer's wife and mother. Together they raised 6 children on a farm just south of Sioux Center. In 1996, they moved to the Regency Retirement Center. Irwin died in 2000, but Ellen continued living at the Regency until 2022 when she moved to Crown Point Estates. 

 Ellen was a faithful member of First Reformed Church and later Centerpoint Church. The word to describe Ellen was “Servant.” She stayed busy cooking, sewing, crocheting, quilting, teaching Sunday School, and leading Bible studies…always for other people…wherever she was needed. She was the church librarian for many years, typed sermons for the hard of hearing, and organized door greeters.

 Ellen was a quiet, humble mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She was open to learning new things, and in her 70s, she learned to operate a computer and used it to write Bible Studies, email the grandkids, and print personal birthday cards for her friends and family. She enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s activities, reading, playing cards with several groups, watching Northwestern Volleyball and Basketball games, and watching the Twins. 

 Her accomplishments paled compared to her love for her Lord and Savior. She was a prayer warrior, and her deepest wish was for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all future generations to love her Lord and continue the legacy of faith she lived out in her lifetime.

 Left to cherish her memory are her children and their families:

Evan and Nancy Vermeer of Sioux Center

   Catherine and Matt Bloom: Maria, Titus of Sioux Center

   Eric and Marissa Vermeer: Cael, Elliana, Harper of Jewell, Iowa

   Elizabeth and Jay Lawrence: Evan of Prole, Iowa

Karen and Leon Schuiteman of Sioux Center

   Matthew and Minde Schuiteman: Micah, Marshall, Miles, Margo, McArthur, Mallory, Monique of Sioux Center

    Abby and Stan De Zeeuw: Keegan, Aiden, Joselyn, Addison of Sibley, Iowa

Leanne and Jim Mouw of Sioux Center

    Kent and Brooke Mouw: Ellen, Lucy of Newton, Massachusetts

    Andrea Mouw of Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Daniel and Tessa Mouw: Colton, Grady, Kinsley, Ada of Sioux Center

Ruth and Arlan Moss of Hull, Iowa

    Adam and Brandi Moss: Asher, Seth, Macy of LeMars, Iowa

    Craig and Hayley Moss: Merritt, McCoy of Hull, Iowa

    JoElyn and Dan Ten Clay: Lydia, Claire, Faith of Sheldon, Iowa

Merilee and Clark Pennings of Orange City

    Meredith and Tim Ennema: Thea of Spirit Lake

    Tyler and Alex Pennings: Luka of Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Al and Ruth Vermeer of Rock Valley, Iowa

    Blake Vermeer of Loveland, Colorado

    Sara and Alex Black of Sioux City, Iowa

    Jana Vermeer of Orange City, Iowa

 Her sister-in-law, Helen Vermeer.

 She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; only sister, Caroline Douma and her husband Ken; daughter-in-law, Dawn Vermeer; great-granddaughter, Elise Faith Mouw; and numerous Vermeer in-laws. 

 The Vermeer family would like to thank Sioux Center Hospice for the compassionate care that they have shown Ellen and family during her time under their care.