Twila was born on October 15, 1927 in Newton, IA to Leland and Honor (McCauley) Balmer. Growing up she helped her dad farm, originally with horses and eventually with a tractor. She attended country school in Reasnor and graduated from Monroe High School in 1946. After High School she worked at Newton Manufacturing Company.
Twila married John Vriezelaar on September 3, 1949, at the Monroe United Methodist Church. They first worked on the farm together before owning Red Rock Tack in Monroe for 30 years. She also sold Avon for 25 years.
In her life Twila was involved in many groups, including being a member of Monroe United Methodist Church, Women’s Club, Forever Young, Today’s Club, and UMW. She was also a Sunday school teacher, 4-H leader of Summit Strivers, Women of Farm Bureau President, and Superintendent of Marion County Flower Department.
Twila and John loved to travel. They took four cruises together and traveled to 34 states. Twila also enjoyed collecting Dalmatian dog figurines. She had collected over 400 figurines. She loved to play cards and games. Her favorite thing was to spend time with her children and grandchildren.
Those left to honor her memory are her two children, Susan (Gregory) Gildersleeve and John Hugh (Gwen) Vriezelaar; five grandchildren, Stacy Hupfeld, Douglas (Lauren) Gildersleeve, Audrey (Dustin Peters) Vriezelaar, Adrian (Rob) McNew, and Adam (Tiffany) Jordison; seven great grandchildren, Paige (Dillon), Alex, Bella, Avery, Gavin, Elise, Nash, and two great great grandchildren, Sophie and Layla. She is also survived by the nurses at The Cottages who loved her so much that they called her grandma.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 2015, a daughter Sandra Jean, in infancy, and her parents.
Public Viewing will be held Monday, 16th of June, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Monroe United Methodist Church.
Services for Twila Vriezelaar will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 10:30 AM at Monroe United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made out to the Monroe United Methodist Church or The Cottages in Pella.
