On Nov. 29, 2017 surrounded by family, Ann Vander Griend slipped quietly from earth into the arms of her maker.
Ann was born on Feb. 24, 1926 to Henry and Ada (De Waard) Korevaar in Corsica, South Dakota. She was the second of four children. In 1941 the family moved from Corsica to the Everson area, where her father bought a farm. In 1943, when Ann was just 17 years old, her mother died. During this tumultuous time, Ann met Adrian Vander Griend at the young people’s society of First Christian Reformed Church of Lynden. They were married on Oct. 30, 1944, and settled first in Sumas and later, for much of their lives, on a farm on the Burk Road. There they raised four daughters, their births spaced out over 20 years. In 1985 they sold the farm and moved to Lynden. Adrian died in 2003.
Ann was quiet and kind, a loving mother who loved to have fun with her family. She had many friends. She worked hard. Her pies were the stuff of legend. For years, after her children had left the house and had families of their own, she cooked dinner for all who could come every Saturday night. As Proverbs 31:28 has it, “Her children arise and called her blessed.”
Besides her parents and her husband, Adrian, she was preceded in death by brother Arlo Korevaar; brothers-in-law Gerrit Heeringa and Frans and Herman Vander Griend; and sisters-in-law Ann Korevaar and Florence and Priscilla Vander Griend.
She is survived by her daughters, Adria (Clayton) Libolt, Ruth (Jim) Reagan, Nancy (Dean) Hendricks, and Julie (Stephen) Stieber; sisters Nell Heeringa and Corrine (Leroy) Lightenberg; brothers-in-law Clarence (Lona) and Mick (Lena) Vander Griend; grandchildren Ryan and Kevin (Missy) Reagan, Kent (Shelly) Hendricks, Karla (Cody) Swan, Tami (Esau Mendez Yela) Hendricks, and Matt and Josh Stieber; and great-grandchildren Aiden, Allie, Aaron, Bella and Jamison Reagan, Ada, Quinn and Nora Hendricks, and Elliot Swan.
Services celebrating Ann’s life were held in the First Christian Reformed Church of Lynden on Tuesday, Dec. 5.
Memorial gifts can be made to the Christian Health Care Center of Lynden, where Ann both worked and later lived.
Please share your memories and condolences in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
