Obituary of Viola Johanna Wolthuizen

    Viola Johanna “Vi” Wolthuizen, oldest daughter of Pete and Johanna “Ann” (Rynders) Prince, was born August 29, 1929 in Lebanon, Sioux County, Iowa. She and her brother, Don, and sister, Polly grew up together in the Sanborn, Iowa area. Vi attended the Sanborn Christian School, graduating from the 8th grade. She was a huge help to her father in his poultry hatchery, collecting eggs, watching the incubators overnight and gathering the baby chicks.

    Vi met her future husband, Joe Edward Wolthuizen, while working in the café her father owned. The two were married on May 28, 1954 at the Sanborn Christian Reformed Church. The family grew to include a daughter, Nancy, and a son, Dale.

    Along with tending to her own family, Vi still managed to help out in her father’s hatchery. She also worked for him at the café, waitressing, cooking, and baking. With all that food experience and know-how, Vi was “in her element” while employed for a time at the Sanborn Bakery. Everyone looked forward to whatever came out of the oven in Vi’s kitchen, and she was always more than ready to share. In her spare time, she like to crochet and knit. Many dishcloths and afghans were created through the years for her children and grandchildren to treasure.

    When Vi retired in 1989, she spent most of her time caring for Joe who was dealing with health issues. They decided to relocate to Luverne, Minnesota in 1995 to be able to enjoy more time with their children and grandchildren, and Joe would be closer to the medical help he needed. She became a member of the Christian Reformed Church at Luverne.

     In March of 2014, Vi decided to move back to Sanborn, and became a resident of Prairie View Home. It was good to be back in her childhood surroundings, plus the fact her sister, Polly, was also living there at the time made the move much easier. Vi enjoyed the years at Prairie View and the people she met there. On Saturday, May 5, 2018, she passed from this life, having reached the age of 88.   

     She will be lovingly remembered by her children: Nancy and her husband, Joe Mulder of Lake Benton, Minnesota, and Dale and his wife, Denise Wolthuizen of Edgerton, Minnesota; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and her brother, Don and his wife, Marilyn Prince of Grand Rapids, Michigan; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.     

    Those preceding her in death are her husband, Joe; her parents, Pete and Ann Prince; and her sister, Polly Hofman.

Celebration of Life
 

Viola Johanna Wolthuizen

Born ~ August 29, 1929

Died ~ May 5, 2018    

Age ~ 88 years    8 months    6 days

Memorial Service

Thursday, May 10, 2018

2:00 p.m.

Sanborn Funeral Home Chapel

Sanborn, Iowa

Clergy

Rev. Dan Donovan

Special Music

Hiedi Stoel, Organist

“How Great Thou Art”

Courtney Mulder, Vocalist

“Amazing Grace”

Congregational Singing

“By The Sea Of Crystal”

Interment

Roseland Cemetery

Sanborn, Iowa