Edna Elizabeth Slings was born on September 14, 1925, at the home of her parents, Hubertus and Jennie(DeJong)Slings, near Leighton, Iowa. She received an 8th grade education at a Country Grade School near Leighton and already began cleaning houses as a young girl. Edna then commuted to Oskaloosa, Iowa where she was employed at Reliable and the Overall Factory. Edna was introduced to John Boender by her brother, Hubert Slings, which ultimately led to their marriage. They were united in marriage on September 21, 1945, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Osklaoosa, Iowa where they were both members. They were the first couple to be married in the church building. To this union five children were born: Jerry Wayne on September 8, 1946, Linda Kay on October 21, 1948, Alan John on December 6, 1952, Sheryl Lea on July 22, 1955 and Valerie Jane on October 10, 1964. Edna and John lived and farmed near Lake Keomah, Beacon, Iowa and in the Lower Grove vicinity near Peoria, Iowa following their marriage. In 1960 they moved into Pella, Iowa at which time John made a career change and began doing carpentry fulltime. Edna was then employed at the Overall Factory in Pella and later resumed cleaning homes and businesses as well. She cut Dutch lace and did babysitting for her grandchildren. Edna and John enjoyed spending winters in Texas and trips to the Lake of the Ozarks during their nearly 60 years of married life together. They were instrumental in the organization of and very involved in the church services at Red Rock Lake, a missionary endeavor of the Calvary Christian Reformed Chruch. On April 29, 2005, John passed away at the age of 81 years. Edna became a resident at the Vriendschap Village in November, 2006, and resided there until September, 2011, when she became a resident at Jefferson Place in Pella where she passed away on Sunday morning, November 6, 2011, at the age of 86 years. Edna is survived by four children and their families: Linda and Jerry Beyer of Knoxville, Iowa; Alan and Joyce(Veenstra)Boender of Pella and their two children: Matthew Boender and his wife, Lynae and their son, Jadon, and Megan Boender and her fiance, Jon Nederhoff; Sheryl and Darrell Goodyk of Pella and her two sons: Jeremy Hunolt and his son, Landon, and Justin Hunolt; Valerie and Mike Nikkel of Sully, Iowa and their four children: Nathanael Nikkel and his wife, Rachel, of Orange City, Iowa and Natasha, Shelby and Miranda Nikkel of Sully. Of her original family
Edna leaves her three sisters: Minnie(Freeman)Houk of Oskaloosa, Iowa, Jenella(Sam)Stull of Sigourney, Iowa, Marilyn(Carroll)Van Wyk of Oskaloosa; her sister-in-law, Marion(Hubert)Slings of Oskaloosa; along with the following sisters-in-law: Cornelia(Boender)Bruxvoort of Newton, Iowa, Harry and Elizabeth Boender, Marilyn(Cornie)Boender, Wilma(Sam Boender)Van Weelden, and Harold(Leona)Van Veldhuizen all of Oskaloosa. Edna was preceded in death by her husband, John; their son, Jerry Wayne Boender, who passed away on July 10, 1960, at the age of 13 years; her parents, Bert and Jennie Slings; her parents-in-law, William and Christine(DeVries)Boender who were both in the Netherlands; her two brothers: Hubert Slings, Arthur Slings and his wife, Hattie; and her brothers-in-law: Freeman Houk, Sam Stull and Carroll Van Wyk. Edna was a faithful member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella. She enjoyed gardening, raising flowers, sewing and more recently quilting. Edna had a love for her family and many friends.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 9, 2011, at 1 pm at Calvary Christian Reformed Church, Pella, Iowa. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery at Leighton, Iowa. Visitation will begin after noon on Tuesday at the Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home where the family will be present Tuesday from 5-7 pm For those desiring, memorials may be given for the furtherance of Christian Education at local Christian Schools.