Myrtle M. Vandenberg

July 3, 1918 - April 11, 2016

Myrtle Magdalene Bloemendaal Vandenberg, age 97, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2016 in Orange City, Iowa. Funeral services will be held in the chapel of the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt on Saturday April 23 at 12:00 noon. Friends may greet Myrtle’s family beginning at 10:30 AM at the funeral home the day of the service. A private burial will be conducted at Indian Mound Cemetery. Myrtle was born July 3, 1918 in Orange City, where she grew up. She was the daughter of Joe Bloemendaal and Annetta De Haan Bloemendaal. From a young age Myrtle developed a deep love for education. She received her Associates Degree from Northwestern College in Orange City, then went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Mrytle married James Gerald “Jerry” Vandenberg on February 9, 1943. Jerry was the son of Henry L. and Grace “Jessie” Prins Vandenberg. Myrtle taught first grade at Twin Rivers Elementary School in Bode, Iowa, where for 30 years she instilled her love of education in hundreds of children. This was one of the greatest joys of Myrtle’s life. When she wasn’t teaching, she enjoyed playing bridge, reading, golfing, entertaining, and decorating. She and Jerry also enjoyed traveling. Myrtle and Jerry lived in Humboldt, Iowa until his death in August, 1983. She continued to live in Humboldt until 2004 when she moved back to Orange City and settled into a comfortable retirement at Landsmeer Ridge Retirement Community where she had many dear friends. Survivors include a son, Michael James (Jennifer) Vandenberg, of Park City, UT; nieces Gretchen Graves of Sioux falls, SD, Mary Weirda of Sioux Falls, Pam Nelson of Iowa City, IA, Mary Ver Steg, and Jane Phinney, both of Sterling, KS. She is also survived by many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, Myrtle was preceded in death by her sisters Margery Freriks, Gladys Mulder, and Phyllis Tunninga. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Faith United Methodist Church in Humboldt.