Leona Vande Voort, 89, of Leighton died Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at the Cottages in Pella. She was born August 25, 1932, in Leighton, Iowa, the daughter of Barney and Carrie Vos Memmelaar. She attended Leighton School through 8th grade. She graduated from Pella Christian High School with the class of 1950. On January 17, 1951, she was united in marriage to Gerritt E. “Gary” Vande Voort at the Leighton Christian Reformed Church. To this union six children were born, Vicki, Kathleen, Pamela, Sandra, Calvin, and Richard. Gary preceded Leona in death on August 24, 2000. The couple started farming west of Oskaloosa, and the remainder of their farming career was in the Leighton area. Leona was a hardworking and talented housewife. She was also a loving mother and grandmother. She was a lifelong participating member of the Leighton Christian Reformed Church. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, photography and traveling to mention a few of her hobbies.
She is survived by five children, Vicki Vande Voort of Denver, Colorado, Kathy (Dave) Heinen of Pella, Pam (Lance) Bricker of Runnells, Sandi (Matt) Luoma of Littleton, Colorado, and Richard (Deb) Vande Voort of Leighton; grandchildren, Emily (Brian) Andersen, Joe Smith, Sam Bricker, Max Bricker, Victoria Bricker, Jake Luoma, Becky Luoma (fiancé Austin Savage), Gary Luoma, Nathan Vande Voort, Cole Vande Voort (fiancée Mariah Vos), and Danielle Vande Voort; great grandchildren, Madalyn, Lindsay and Brooke; step grandchildren and step great grandchildren; a brother, John Memmelaar of Des Moines; three sisters, Bernice (Willard) Bronger of Wheaton, Illinois, Jo Ann Blom of Pella, and Nancy (Ron) Swank of Sully.
In addition to her husband Gary, Leona was preceded in death by a son, Calvin Vande Voort; her parents; in-laws, Nancy Memmelaar, Marvin Blom, Hank and Gertrude Vande Voort.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 16, 2022, at 2 p.m. in the Leighton Christian Reformed Church in Leighton with Reverends Al Bandstra and Don Ringnalda officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery near Leighton at 1:30 Saturday afternoon preceding the funeral ceremony. Those wishing to attend the graveside service should meet at the Evergreen Cemetery near Leighton by 1:25 Saturday afternoon. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Friday, April 15, 2022, after 1 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa. The family will be at the funeral chapel from 4:30-6:30 to greet friends and relatives. Open visitation will resume at the Leighton Christian Reformed Church on Saturday morning at 10:00 and will continue until 1:25 at which time a procession will form to go to the cemetery. Memorials may be made to Pella Christian Grade School.
