Muriel Ver Steeg

July 22, 1920 - May 22, 2017

Muriel Ver Steeg, 96, formerly of Humboldt, passed away May 22, 2017 at the Zearing Health Care Center in Zearing, Iowa. Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 27th at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Humboldt. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the time of the services at the church. The Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home of Humboldt is assisting the family. Muriel was born July 22, 1920, to Edward and Ovedia Gestie Reece. She attended Springfield Township country school and graduated from Ledyard Consolidated High School in Ledyard, Iowa in 1937. She then attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where she met fellow student, Edwin Ver Steeg, of Mitchellville, Iowa. Ed and Muriel married June 28, 1939. The couple lived in various Iowa locales, including Prescott and Clarinda, where Ed was a schoolteacher and coach. During WWII, Ed entered the Naval Air Corps and they lived in Chicago and Minneapolis during his active duty. Following his service, Ed returned to teaching and coaching, and the couple lived in Maquoketa and Washington, Iowa. In 1952, they moved to Humboldt when Ed took employment with Farmland Industries. During the years on Rainbow Drive, Ed and Muriel’s family and circle of friends grew. Many of those friendships lasted the rest of their lives. In 1964, Ed and Muriel purchased a farm near Livermore, Iowa, living there nearly 40 years before returning to Humboldt in later retirement. Some of their winters in retirement were enjoyed in Mesa, Arizona. Ed and Muriel later moved to Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge, where Ed passed away in 2007, on their 68th wedding anniversary. In 2016, Muriel moved to Zearing to be near her daughter, Eddie Lee. In addition to being a homemaker and mother to her four children, Muriel enjoyed many hobbies and activities. She was active in the Congregational Church of Humboldt and the United Methodist Church of Livermore, where she served as president of the United Methodist Women. She played bridge with her Livermore and Humboldt friends and couples from their “supper club”. Muriel and Ed attended many concerts and plays, especially when their children and grandchildren were involved. Muriel sang alto in church choir and played the harmonica whenever the mood struck her. She had a green thumb and spent many hours canning and freezing the produce she grew. She often delighted friends, family, and neighbors with her homemade pies and cookies. One of her favorite activities was a daily walk. Ed and Muriel also enjoyed their cabin on the Humboldt golf course, where they entertained friends and family and took frequent pontoon rides on the river. Family camping trips in the travel trailer were always an adventure and made great memories for their kids and later, for their grandkids. Muriel was preceded in death by her parents Ed and Ovedia Reece, sister Kathleen Keeler, grandson Kurt Peterson, and granddaughter Nicole Ver Steeg. She is survived by her brother Jack Reece (Darlene) of Ledyard, Iowa; brother James Reece of Burlington, Washington; brother Omar Reece, of Ames, Iowa; daughter Edwina Amundson (Harold) of Zearing, Iowa; son Kyle Ver Steeg (Phyllis) of Clear Lake, Iowa; daughter Julie Larson (Jeff) of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; son Dirk Ver Steeg (Adele) of rural Earlham, Iowa, as well as ten grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Congregational United Church of Christ in Humboldt, the Livermore United Methodist Church in Livermore, or a charity of your choice.