Aletha 'Blondie' Granstra

IN MEMORY OF
ALETHA “BLONDIE” GRANSTRA
BORN
July 26, 1918 ~ Sheldon, Iowa
PASSED AWAY
December 27, 2005 ~ Sheldon, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICE
2:00 P.M. Friday, December 30, 2005
Bethel Reformed Church, Sheldon, Iowa
Gene Bomgaars ~ officiating
VISITATION
Thursday, December 29, 2005 after 2:00 P.M.
With the family present from 6:30 – 8:00 P.M.
At the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon, Iowa

MUSIC
“Because He Lives”
“It’s Supper Time”
Sung by: Dyan Sterk
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN
No. 4 “Majesty”
Organist: Carol Statema

CASKET BEARERS
Cody Granstra Cades Granstra
Ian Granstra James Granstra
Billy Gebauer III Bruce Gebauer

FINAL RESTING PLACE
East Lawn Cemetery ~ Sheldon, Iowa

Memorials may be directed:
To your favorite charity or to a church of your choice.

After the graveside service, relatives and friends
are invited to join the family in the
fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements under the care of
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home of Sheldon, Iowa

“Love is a mystery in every way:
In order to receive it, it must be given away.”

ALETHA “BLONDIE” GRANSTRA
Aletha “Blondie” Granstra, the daughter of Joe Sr. and Mae (Muilenberg) Erkes, was born on a farm near Sheldon, Iowa on July 26, 1918. She moved with her parents into Sheldon, when she was 5 years old. Blondie has lived her entire life in Sheldon and received her education in the Sheldon Schools.
She was united in marriage to William Granstra on April 28, 1938 in Sheldon, Iowa. He preceded her in death on November 2, 1993 in Rochester, Minnesota. She passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 at Northwest Iowa Health Center – Senior Center in Sheldon, reaching the age of 87 years, 5 months and 1 day.
Blondie was a member of the Bethel Reformed Church in Sheldon, which she and her family faithfully attended. She taught Sunday school, catechism and bible school and was a member of the women’s circle of the church. She enjoyed traveling, hunting, fishing and camping. Being together with family and friends, cooking Venison, frying Canadian fish was her greatest delight. She will also be remembered by many for her decorated cards that she sent to everyone. Blondie loved her Lord and never missed a chance to tell everyone what He meant to her. She gave her heart to Jesus, when she was five years old at a church meeting.
Blondie leaves to cherish her memory, her three sons, Billy Joe Granstra of Sheldon, Iowa; and his ex-wives, Marita Schultz of Sheldon, Iowa and Judy Granstra of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Donley D. Granstra and his wife, Patricia R. of Carroll, Iowa; Richy Lee Granstra and his wife, Jacque of Eureka, California; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a sister, Helen Gebauer of Orange City, Iowa; a brother and his wife, Don and Theresa Erkes of California; two sisters-in-law, Helen Erkes and Greta Uittenbogaard both of Sheldon, Iowa; and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and infant granddaughter, Dallas Dawn Granstra; and four brothers, Marion Erkes; Herman “Shorty” Erkes; Bert Erkes and Joe Erkes Jr..