Thursday 28th March 2024

Leora Vande Kamp, 99 of Marshalltown passed away in the early hours of the morning on Sunday, May 3, 2020 at Bickford Senior Living of Marshalltown.  Leora was in the excellent care of the Bickford staff with off-site support from the Iowa River Hospice in the last month. Her passing was unrelated to the COVID-19 virus.  With current state of Iowa COVID-19 restrictions in place, a private family-only graveside service will be held at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens for Leora.  Family and friends may leave a fond memory or condolences for the family at www.mitchellfh.com or phone 641-844-1234 for additional information.  Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Leora and her family.

Leora Hazel Allen was born July 20, 1920 to parents Edward and Virginia (Williams) Allen in Weldona, Colorado.  She was the youngest of seven children.  Leora attended a country school in northwest Kansas near Lenora and subsequently moved with her family to Marshall County, Iowa.  On March 9, 1939, Leora was united in marriage to Edward “Ted” Vande Kamp in Plattsburg, Missouri and she and Ted then made their home tenant farming near Laurel.  During World War II, the young family moved to California to support the war effort with Ted working as a welder in the shipyards and Leora parenting two young children and doing laundry work to support the family.  After the war, they moved back to farm in the Gilman and Laurel areas, eventually becoming landowners and raising four children to learn the benefits of honest living and hard work.  In 1981, Ted and Leora retired from farming and moved to Marshalltown.

Leora was a member of the O.U.R. Club in Laurel, as well as a 500 card club in Marshalltown.  Leora was known for her baking (everything had black walnuts as an ingredient), her homemade lime pickles, angel food cake for birthdays, and homemade ice cream.  She and Ted raised chickens, milked cows, and raised sheep and hogs on the farm.  They always had large vegetable gardens (canning and freezing were a “must”) and always shared generously with family and friends.  They enjoyed road trips from time to time, as well as working together quilting and shelling black walnuts in the winter, and visiting nearby relatives and neighbors.

Left to remember and cherish her memory are her children Norman (Margaret) Vande Kamp of Ankeny, IA, Charlene (Dayton) Perry of Chandler, AZ, Terry (Mickey) Vande Kamp of Van Meter, IA, and Gerald (Karen) Vande Kamp of Kellogg, IA; her grandchildren Michael, Deanna, Jenna, Clinton, John, Kayleen, and Matthew; twelve great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband Edward “Ted” Vande Kamp; her parents Edward and Virginia Allen; and her siblings Roy Allen, Beulah Finders, Gladys Steelsmith, Kenneth “Bud” Allen, Leona Kaspar, and Eloise Nelson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family, in care of Mitchell Family Funeral Home, 1209 Iowa Ave W., Marshalltown, IA 50158 to be shared with local health care providers.