Wanda E. Kooima, 73, Sheldon

Funeral services for Wanda E. Kooima were held Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, at First Reformed Church in Sheldon, with Pastor Paul Van Maaren officiating. Burial was at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon. Vander Ploeg Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Wanda Elaine Kooima, the daughter of Lane and Jennie (Kiel) Klarenbeek, was born Aug. 19, 1948 in Rock Rapids. She grew up on a farm near Alvord. Wanda attended and graduated from West Lyon School.

She married Ronald Kooima on March 14, 1969 in Rock Rapids. A month after their marriage Ron left for Vietnam, so while Ron was in Vietnam she lived with her parents and worked at Lewis Drug in Sioux Falls, S.D. until he returned. They lived in Rock Valley until September of 1972 when they moved to their home in Sheldon. She started babysitting and did in home daycare for 43 years, and babysat hundreds of children.

Wanda passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas, reaching the age of 73 years, 11 months and 27 days.

Wanda was a longtime member of First Reformed Church in Sheldon. Wanda loved spending time with her family and attending their extra-curricular activities. She was well known with the daycare kids for her homemade applesauce and spaghetti. She enjoyed gardening and tending to her flowers; by looking at her yard you could see what kind of green thumb she had. Wanda and Ron enjoyed country western dancing as they traveled all over to judge competitions as well as teaching dancing to couples. She also enjoyed cooking, baking and sewing. Ron and Wanda enjoyed camping together and spent seven years wintering in Texas. She was on the Mission Bell Church Board, was in a Bible study group, sewed for Toys 4 Tots and volunteered around the park.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 53 years, Ron; two daughters, Sheila (Robert) Riedemann, of Hartley, and their children, Niel, Jennie and Jessica; and Vicki (Jamie) Koele, of Boyden, and their children, Reece and Brooklyn. She is also survived by two brothers: Larry (Sandy) Klarenbeek, of Spearfish, S.D.; and Stan Klarenbeek, of Eudora, Kan.; two brothers-in-law: Ken (Eileen) Kooima, of Rock Valley; and Jim Riley, of Tucson, Ariz.; along with nieces and nephews, and all the daycare kids she cared for.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents and a sister-in-law, Wanda Riley.