WITZENBURG, Agnes Margaret

Agnes Margaret Van Rheenen was born on August 23, 1914, near Reasnor, Iowa. She was one of eleven children that were born to Henry and Maggie Mathes Van Rheenen. Agnes attended the Richland Country Grade School in Jasper County, Iowa and was the only daughter in her family to graduate from Pella High School in Pella, Iowa, while living with her relatives. Following her graduation Agnes taught elementary school for a year and then began working in a grocery store and at the dime store in Pella. On February 14, 1940, she was united in marriage with Clarence Witzenburg, a son of Yella A. and Marie De Zwarte Witzenburg, at the Third Reformed Church in Pella in a double wedding ceremony. To this union three children were born: Clarence Glenn, Harvey Gene and Margo Marie. Following their marriage Agnes and Clarence lived in and around Pella where Clarence farmed and was a truck driver. Soon thereafter Agnes became a representative for Stanley Home Products. Initially she did not know how to drive so she paid a friend to drive her to Stanley Home parties. Agnes continued as a dealer of Stanley Home Products for over 35 years, eventually becoming a unit manager and assistant branch manager; and received many awards and won a number of trips for herself and her family. In November of 1978 Agnes and Clarence moved to Apache Junction, Arizona because of his ill health. On May 4, 1985, Clarence passed away in Mesa, Arizona at the age of 67 years. Following his death Agnes returned to Pella in 1988, a place she often referred to as "a little bit of heaven". Agnes continued to reside in Pella the remainder of her lifetime where she moved from Prairie Village into the home of her niece and nephew, Marlyn and Carl Van Houweling. In June of 2004, she became a resident at Jefferson Place where she passed away on Wednesday evening November 21, 2007. Those who will cherish her memory are her three children and their spouses and twelve grandchildren. They and their families are C. Glenn and Pam Witzenburg of Naples, FL, Harvey G. and Pat Witzenburg of Onalaska, WI. and Margo M. and Norman Jacobs of Oskaloosa. Agnes' family has grown to include eleven great-grandchildren. Of her original family she leaves one sister, Irene and her husband, Harold Harder of Tipton, Iowa; a brother, Clifford Van Rheenen of Mendota, Illinois; her sister-in-law, Esther (Ralph H.) Van Rheenen of Pella; her brother-in-law, Arthur (Betty Van Rheenen) Klyn of Pella; and a brother-in-law, Marion Witzenburg and his wife, Lenora of Dunkerton, Iowa; along with special nieces and nephews. Agnes was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Witzenburg; her parents, Henry and Maggie Van Rheenen; two sisters: Betty Klyn and Marguerite Van Zee; and six brothers: William, Valentine, John, Chalmer, Gary and Rev. Ralph Van Rheenen. Agnes had been an active, devoted member of the Berean Baptist Church in Pella. Her faith and her family were very important to her and she enjoyed playing games with her grandchildren. Agnes' joys in life were reading novels, watching television, canning and going on picnics. For those desiring, memorials may be given to the Alzheimer's Association. The Pella Chronicle, Pella, Iowa December 7, 2007