Obituary of Mabel Wagenaar

Mabel Beulah Wagenaar, daughter of Sam and Grace (Stuit) DeBruyn, was born on February 20, 1920 at Sioux City, IA. She spent her youth near Archer and Sheldon, IA, and attended the Archer Country School. On November 22, 1938, Mabel was united in marriage to Mike Wagenaar on the Wagenaar farmstead near Archer, IA; a place they would call "home" their entire married life. Along with helping Mike on the farm, Mabel's days were busy caring for their ten children. She always had a big garden on the farm and loved to can and freeze the vegetables it produced. She was also an excellent cook; her entire family enjoyed everything that came from Mabel's kitchen! Sewing was another favorite pastime. The necessary sewing and mending of children's clothing turned into quilt-making later on. Over the years, she created many beautiful quilts for family members to treasure. If there wasn't enough to tend to on the farm, Mabel also found time to work as a Nurse's Aide at the Sheldon Hospital for several years. Mike and Mabel were members of the Archer Reformed Church. They enjoyed taking short trips together, finding the warmer climate of California a better place to be in the cold months, so began spending winters there in 1974. Mike passed away on February 1, 1989. Mabel continued living on their farm, and still enjoyed traveling in a smaller motor home with her sister-in-law, Jenny, and her daughter, Karen. A "trip to remember" was taking the motor home to Alaska with her daughters, Karen and Jackie, a family friend, and three dogs! Mabel always had the coffee pot on and plenty of good food for anyone who stopped in for a visit. Her greatest delight was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She passed from this life on Monday, August 10, 2015 at her home in rural Archer at the age of 95. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; one son, Hank Wagenaar; a daughter-in-law, Diann Wagenaar; Mike's siblings, including three brothers and their wives, two sisters, and a brother-in-law. Left to cherish her memory are her children and their families, including: Jim (Mary) Wagenaar of Archer, IA, Fred Wagenaar of Cedar Rapids, IA, Marge Langmeyer of Ripon, CA, Judy (Bob) Kruse of Sheldon, IA, Jerry (Renae) Wagenaar of Paullina, IA, Ken (Diane) Wagenaar of Archer, IA, Karen Wagenaar and Jackie Wagenaar, both of Sheldon, IA, Don (Dee) Wagenaar of Archer, IA; her 20 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren. Celebration of Life Mabel B. Wagenaar Born ~ February 20, 1920 Died ~ August 10, 2015 Age ~ 95 years 5 months 21 days Funeral Service Saturday, August 15, 2015 ~ 10:30 a.m. Reformed Church Archer, Iowa Clergy ~ Rev. Jeremy Wiersema Pianist ~ Michele DeKok Soloist ~ Jodi Wohlert Music "I Can Only Imagine" "It Is Well With My Soul" "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again" Pallbearers Jason Wagenaar Jeff Wagenaar Dustin Wagenaar Heidi Buteyn Troy Iedema Brent Kruse J.J. Wagenaar Ben Wagenaar Honorary Pallbearers Mabel's grandchildren and great-grandchildren Ushers George Blankers ~ Carl Folkers Interment Pleasant Hill Cemetery Primghar, Iowa