Cover photo for Clara Vellinga's Obituary
Clara Vellinga Profile Photo
1918 Clara 2015

Clara Vellinga

December 28, 1918 — April 12, 2015

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
CLARA VELLINGA

BORN
December 28, 1918
Rushmore, Minnesota

PASSEDAWAY
April 12, 2015
Sheldon, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICES
10:30 A.M. Saturday
April 18, 2015
First Reformed Church
Sheldon, Iowa
Rev. Paul Van Maaren Officiating

Visitation will be after 2 P.M. on Friday, April 17, 2015
with the family present from 5:00 to 7:30 P.M.
at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.

MUSIC
I Will Rise
Sung by: Danielle Schouten

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS
Amazing Grace
And Can It Be
Sweet By and By
Organist: Jett Korver

CASKET BEARERS
Jason Beck Kirk Flaskegaard
Roman Nelsen Bob Langenhorst
Jeremy Nicholson Bob Beck
Damon Koontz

FINAL RESTING PLACE
East Lawn Cemetery
Sheldon, Iowa

Arrangements under the care of the
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home of Sheldon, Iowa

After the graveside service relatives and friends are invited to join
the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

CLARA VELLINGA
Clara was born to Andrew and Jenny (Heitmeyer) Bosch on December 28th, 1918 in Rushmore, MN. She attended country school near Hospers, Iowa. Clara was united in marriage to Raymond Rodney Vellinga on August 2, 1943. They made their home and raised their family in Sheldon. Ray became an accomplished realtor and auctioneer and Clara frequently assisted Ray in his auctioneering business. Clara was a lifelong member of First Reformed Church in Sheldon. She participated in many church groups. She was a good organizer and spent many hours in the church kitchen. Sewing, crewel, needle art, ceramics, and embroidery were hobbies at which she excelled. She was responsible for the VFW poppy sales for several years. Eventually she worked at retail stores in downtown Sheldon. Clara enjoyed completing crossword and jigsaw puzzles and visiting her daughters and their families. Because her daughters were scattered across the country and moved several times, Clara was able to visit many interesting places.
Ray passed away in 1974 at the young age of 53 and Clara courageously built a new life for herself. Clara always kept a positive outlook and didnt complain. During her eight years at Field Crest Assisted Living and nearly two years in Sanford Senior Care Center, she would frequently say, Do what you gotta do, and this encouraged and inspired others. Clara Bosch Vellinga passed away at the Sanford Senior Care Center in Sheldon, Iowa, April 12, 2015 at the age of 96.
Clara is remembered for her sense of humor and playfulness. Her daughters in particular say about their mom, there were two things not to be messed with, her hair appointment and her card games! And we will always remember her sugar cookies and a variety of things she made with that ever-abundant, rhubarb.
Left to cherish her memory are her three daughters and son-in-law, Patricia Nelsen (Fairfax, VA), Karen and Bob Beck (Littleton, CO) and Gloria Vellinga (Roseville, MN). Clara enjoyed her eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and frequently visited them over the years and provided care during moving and life transitions (new babies). Her grandchildren include Eric and his wife Diana Nelsen, Roman Nelsen, Kyle Nelsen, Tricia Nelsen, Jason Beck, Laura Beck, Kirk Flaskegaard and his fiance Danielle Huber, Brittany (Flaskegaard) Nicholson and her husband Jeremy. Her great-grandchildren are Sarah-Ann Clara Nelsen (23), Grant Nelsen (13), Dakota Nelsen (11), Tyler Nelsen (7) and Hailey Nelsen (5). She also leaves behind two sisters, Mary Holtrop (Fulda, MN) and Margaret Smith (Marietta, GA).
In addition to her husband, Ray, and her parents, preceding her in death are her brothers and sisters, Tena Langenhorst, Simon Bosch, Geraldine Walvoord, Andrew Bosch Jr., and John Bosch and two sisters-in-law and four brothers-in-law.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Clara Vellinga, please visit our flower store.

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