Verna Jean Vander Beek was born on November 5, 1925, south of Sully, Iowa. She was the third of four children that were born to Antonie Pieter and Tunnie Goemaat Vander Beek. Verna attended the Sully Elementary School and graduated Valedictorian from her high school class at Sully High School. Following her graduation Verna pursued teaching and attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa to earn her teaching certificate. She taught in the Dairy Grove and Highland Country Grade Schools and in Killduff, Iowa and later did substitute teaching. On September 19, 1946, she was united in marriage with Glen Elscott, a son of John and Maggie Brand Elscott, at the home of her parents. To this union six children were born: Phyllis Jean, Merlyn Ray, Francene Joy, Jerry Lee, Bryce Eugene and Dean Curtis. Following their marriage Verna and Glen began farming near Taintor, Iowa. In 1952 they moved to the Sully area where they farmed until his health necessitated he retire from farming. Following his retirement in 1981 they moved into Sully in 1984 where they enjoyed gardening and camping together. During all these years Verna was a devoted homemaker. She was also a partner/employee of the Sully Community Locker. Verna was an avid Iowa Hawkeye, Chicago Cubs fan and a Lynnville-Sully High School basketball fan. On November 2, 1992, Glen passed away at the Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 70 years. Following his death Verna continued to enjoy reading and appreciating music. Music was an important trait in the Vander Beek family. She had played the trombone, served as a church organist and continued to enjoy singing with her family and in the church choir. She loved her afternoon coffee times and going out to eat with her sisters, sister-in-law and friends, as well as playing cards and games. Since October of 2006, Verna had resided at the Vriendschaap Village in Pella, Iowa, an adjustment she learned to appreciate. On Thursday afternoon, September 4, 2008, she passed away at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 82 years, 9 months and 29 days. Those who will cherish her memory are her six children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 1 step great-grandchild. They and their families are:Phyllis and John H. De Vries of Prairie City, IA,Patricia and Craig Harrison of Oelwein, IA,Caleb, Lauren,Jeffrey and Kristin De Vries of Pleasant Hill, IA,Madison,Julie De Vries of Prairie City, IA; Merlyn and Paulette (Adams ) Elscott of Newton, IA,Megan and Joel Vos of Sully, IA,Isaac,Josey and Troy Van Weelden of Sully, IA,Emily Gibson of Des Moines, IA,Sarah Gibson of Olathe, KS; Fran and Rich Reel of West Des Moines, IA,Scott and Shelby Reel of Des Moines,IA,Logan, Tanner, Kelly and Steve Medina of Hopkinton, MA, Ashley; Jerry and Lorna (Renaud) Elscott of Sully, IA,Gregory and Erin Elscott of Sully, IA, Alexis, Gage,Cassandra and Jeffrey A. Bokhoven of Pella, IA, Dakotah, Lindy,Kara and Jeremy Bassett of Monroe, IA,Alyssa, Brayden,Troy and Aleisha Elscott of Coralville, IA; Bryce and Sharla (Harthoorn) Elscott of Pleasant Hill, IA,Nicole and Mitch Jarchow of Grimes, IA, Matthew Elscott of Pleasant Hill, IA; Dean and Donna (Churchill) Elscott of Kellogg, IA, Lisa and Justin Kampman of Newton, IA,Gavin,Landon Elscott of Kellogg, IA,Layton Elscott of Kellogg, IA Of her original family Verna leaves her older sister, Pearl (Nelson) Terpstra presently of Pella, Iowa; her younger sister, Sylvia and her husband Claris Van Genderen of Sully, Iowa; her sister-in-law, Sara Rose ( Abe) Vander Beek of Pella; three sisters-in-law: Jennie (Elscott), Mrs.Harold Geurts of Pella, Ellen (Elscott), Mrs. Francis Van Zante and Grace (Elscott), Mrs. John Renaud both of Pella; and two brothers-in-law: James (Gladys Elscott) Renaud of Sully and Chadwick (Irene Elscott) Ver Ploeg of Pella. Verna was preceded in death by her husband, Glen; her parents, A.P. and Tunnie Vander Beek; her parents-in-law, John and Maggie Elscott; a great-grandson, Ethan De Vries; and her brother, Abe Vander Beek. Verna was a former member of the Daughters of American Revolution. She was a lifelong, faithful member of the First Reformed Church in Sully where she had been a member of the Golden Hour Circle. One of her greatest joys was spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.


It was Verna's desire to have memorials be given for the music department of the First Reformed Church in Sully or the American Heart Association.

Van Dyk- Duven Funeral Home