Vera Vander Wilt Brand was born on August 26, 1923 on a farm south of Lynnville, Iowa. She was the youngest of six children that were born to Neal and Mayme (Vande Krol) Vander Wilt. She was raised on a farm between Lynnville and Taintor, Iowa. She attended the Ludwig Country Grade School through the 8th grade. Vera loved working outdoors with her brothers, always preferring to hurry with housework so she could get outside. When she met Clarence H. Brand, a farmer, at Tulip Time in Pella, it was a perfect match. Clarence and Vera were married on September 7, 1943, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Clarence moved a house onto the farm place of Clarence's parents. Later they rented a farm near New Sharon, Iowa and in 1954 moved to their farmstead one mile north of Sully, Iowa, where they lived and farmed together until August of 2010. To this union four children were born: Connie Louise, Gary Eugene, Ladonna Mae and Bonita Joy. Vera loved to mow lawn always preferring still to be outdoors. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, canning, farming activities, reading her Bible and her family. In August of 2010, Clarence and Vera moved to Vriendschap Village in Pella. After a brief illness, Vera passed away at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House on November 18, 2010. She attained the age of 87 years, 2 months and 23 days. Those left to honor her memory are her husband, Clarence of 67 years, whom she was deeply devoted to and rarely separated from,and her three daughters and their families: Connie Vander Hart and her husband, Tom of Pella,Karen and Dirk Ryals of Pella,Jeffrey and Jessica,Sheri and John Geddes of Zeeland, MI,Matthew and Ashley;Ladonna Van Zee and her husband, Terry of Pella,Kayla and John McCannon of Urbandale, IA,Lucas and Rylie,Kelli Van Zee of Gaithersburg, MD,Tyler Van Zee of Pella; Bonita Kreber of Waukee, Iowa,Michael, Austin and Colton Kreber. Of Vera's original family she leaves her sister, Freda Goodyk of Knoxville, IA, her brother Lester Vander Wilt and his wife, Deyonna of Pella, and sister-in-laws; Ruth Vander Wilt of Newton, KS, Artie Vander Wilt of Sully, and Frances De Cook and her husband Armand of Sully. Vera was preceded in death by: her son, Gary in 1989; her son-in-law, Ronald Kreber in 2002; her great grandson, Nicholas McCannon in 2006; her brothers; Orval, Wildo, and Carroll Vander Wilt, and in-laws: Agnes Vander Wilt and Wiebe Goodyk. Vera attended the First Reformed Church in Sully, enjoying senior citizen events and helping on sewing days. She was previously in happy fellowship with those gathered unto the Lord's name in Sully, Iowa.


Memorials may be made to the Hospice of Pella Comfort House or Back to the Bible.

Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home