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Janet Bosveld Vermeer

Birth	:	29 Nov 1908 Pella, Marion County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	6 Mar 1999 Sioux Center, Sioux County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Ben Culbertson Cemetery, Menifee County, USA
Coordinate	:	37.8516121, -83.5190506
Description	:	Funeral services for teacher set for Wednesday One of Sioux Center's most respected teachers died on Saturday, March 6, at the Sioux Center Community Hospital at the age of 90. Janet Vermeer taught hundreds students in her math. Latin and Bible classes at Sioux Center High School and taught both children and adults in Sunday school classes at Central Reformed Church. Her love of teaching children extended beyond her 35-yearlong career at the school. After her retirement, she tutored students. She taught freshman algebra, advanced algebra and trigonometry along with Latin and the Bible. She also taught physics and chemistry at... Read More	Funeral services for teacher set for Wednesday One of Sioux Center's most respected teachers died on Saturday, March 6, at the Sioux Center Community Hospital at the age of 90. Janet Vermeer taught hundreds students in her math. Latin and Bible classes at Sioux Center High School and taught both children and adults in Sunday school classes at Central Reformed Church. Her love of teaching children extended beyond her 35-yearlong career at the school. After her retirement, she tutored students. She taught freshman algebra, advanced algebra and trigonometry along with Latin and the Bible. She also taught physics and chemistry at one time. But it is her teaching of mathematics for which she is best known. Jim Vermeer, the youngest of the five Vermeer children, said his mother's love for mathematics was because of her analytical mind. "Mom liked the absolute. She liked phrases like 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved,' and 'two plus two is four," he said. "When she read literature, she didn't like to read between the lines." Janet Vermeer started teaching school at the young age of 19. She graduated from high school at 16 and then graduated from Central College in Pella in three years. Her first teaching job was in Correctionville. She then taught one year in Maurice before starting her career at Sioux Center High School. During her career, she took time out to raise five children. At age 65, Vermeer retired because of mandatory retirement, but then she tutored students privately for 15 years. "Mom did not want to quit when she was 65," Vermeer said. "She was healthy and very sharp." Vermeer added that one of the things that will be remembered is the respect with which his mother treated students and that this is why so many of her former students speak so highly of her. "When you were in her class, she could look at your face and could tell if you understood what was being taught or not. If you didn't understand it, she would never single you out or embarrass you. She would say, 'Class, let's go over this again.' Then, if you still didn't get it, she would call you over to her desk as the class was leaving the room and, in private, ask you to repeat the problem. Then she would explain it to you if you didn't understand, and soon the bells would go off in your mind. "It didn't make any difference if your name was Jones, Vermeer or Vander Ploeg. She treated everyone the same. That's why it was so easy to be her child and be in her class. I was always proud to have Mom as a teacher," said Vermeer. "She treated her students as she wanted to be treated." There were two things that Vermeer didn't like to see in her classroom. She didn't like a lazy student or cheating. "It tore her heart out if she caught a student cheating because she would feel as if she had failed to teach that student if he or she had to cheat," Vermeer said. He added that, if a student didn't do his or her work, his mother would keep that person after school to finish it. It didn't matter if the student was an athlete or a musician. "She never raised her voice. All she did was look at you, and that look was so piercing! It was a look that put the fear of the Lord in you," he said, adding that other former students recalled that look. The look had that effect because of the respect students had for Mrs. Vermeer. A number of years ago, the Janet Vermeer Mathematics Scholarship was established at Sioux Center High School for students who plan to go on to study mathematics. "She didn't want that started because she didn't want any attention brought to herself," said Vermeer. "We kids started that and said the scholarship should be established while she was still alive and that she should participate in the selection process. She went along with it then. She wanted the recipients to be kids who would go into the math field, and she received some nice responses from kids who received the scholarship." Vermeer taught Sunday school to eighth-grade students and to adults. "She didn't teach me in Sunday school but I had her for Bible class in high school," said Vermeer. "She always had written on the blackboard II Timothy 2:15 - Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Little cards with handwritten inspirational phrases were also a part of Janet Vermeer's world. She would send letters to the three children who lived away from her, and she would send with the letter these little cards with phrases on them. She also had those cards with inspirational verses tucked away in books. In appreciation for the arts and an appreciation for the type of talent art takes, but often time art is not an absolute. Her love for sports was the same. When a ball went through a basket, a touchdown was scored or a home run was hit, then a number was produced. She was also very competitive She played games with her children and grandchildren, and they had to earn it if they won. 'From the time I was three years old, we played games," said Vermeer. 'That competitiveness I learned at a young age. The competitiveness wasn't that you had to win but that you had to do your best." She also taught her children and her students that you never say, can't, and the fact that she might know something while her children or students may not is not because she was smarter but because she was older. 'That's the way she taught us. She never talked down to us. You may not have understood something because you may not have put forth your best effort," he said. "My mother was the epitome of a Christian," Vermeer stated. "She always picked out the positive things and spoke about positive things. If you brought negative things to her, she would acknowledge that, but then have something positive to say." Memorial services for Janet Vermeer will take place on Wednesday, March 10, at 1:30 p.m. at Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center with the Rev. Brian Steenhoek officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center at 11:30 a.m. Visitation is today, Tuesday, March 9, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Vander Ploeg Chapel in Sioux Center. Mrs. Vermeer was born in Pella to John and Gertrude (Nadort) Bosveld on November 29, 1908. On March 9, 1929, she married Theodore Vermeer in Sioux Center. He preceded her in death on March 15, 1978. She was an active member of Central Reformed Church and taught Sunday school for 30 years and led many Bible studies in the church as well as the community. She enjoyed handiwork, especially quilting, and, with her active mind, she had an avid interest in all kinds of word games. She also traveled extensively in her retirement. Survivors include five children and their spouses: Theo and Gene Klimstra of Iowa City; Robert and Carolin Vermeer of Sioux Center; Janice and Roger Beals of Henning, Minnesota; Louis Vermeer of Sand Point, Idaho; and James A. and Barb Vermeer of Sioux Center; 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, eight step-great-grandchildren and two brothers, Lou Bosveld of Mason City and Fred Bosveld of Pella. She was preceded in death by her husband, one sister, Alice Wesselink, and one brother, Robert Bosveld. Memorials have been designated for the "Janet Vermeer Mathematics Scholarship Fund" at the Sioux Center Community School. -Obituary from The Sioux Center News (3/9/1999) Iowa, Births and Christenings Index, 1857-1947 Name: Jennette Bosveld Birth Date: 29 Nov 1908 Birth Place: Pella, Iowa, United States Father's name: John Bosveld Mother's name: Gertrude Nadort FHL Film Number: 1616981

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Janet Bosveld Vermeer's memorial?
Janet Bosveld Vermeer's memorial is located at: Ben Culbertson Cemetery, Menifee County, USA.
When did Janet Bosveld Vermeer death?
Janet Bosveld Vermeer death on 6 Mar 1999 in Sioux Center, Sioux County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Janet Bosveld Vermeer's memorial?
Latitude: 37.8516121
Longitude: -83.5190506

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Theodore Mathys “Ted” Vermeer

(1906 - 1978)

Siblings

Children

Robert James “Bob” Vermeer

(1931 - 2016)

James “Jim” Vermeer

(1941 - 2006)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Ben Culbertson Cemetery
Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8516121, -83.5190506

2. Cane Branch Cemetery
Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8513890, -83.5247220

3. Congleton Cemetery
Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8469010, -83.5190110

4. Adams Cemetery
Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8444443, -83.5219421

5. Charles Culbertson Cemetery
Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8564758, -83.5077057

6. Clester Landrum Cemetery
Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8481903, -83.5404663

7. Brown Cemetery
Frenchburg, Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8413887, -83.5380554

8. Adams and Sorrell Cemetery
Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8327780, -83.5327780

9. Flat Rock Cemetery
Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8630981, -83.4955978

10. Becraft and Roe Cemetery
Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8763890, -83.5025000

11. McGuire Cemetery
Maytown, Morgan County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8530730, -83.4808750

12. James K. Ratliff Cemetery
Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8875000, -83.5216670

13. Ward Cemetery
Ezel, Morgan County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8702380, -83.4794860

14. Claypool Cemetery
Maytown, Morgan County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8724350, -83.4764710

15. Maytown Cemetery
Maytown, Morgan County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8454440, -83.4691860

16. Cole Cemetery
Maytown, Morgan County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8618270, -83.4638210

17. Brown Family Cemetery
Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8968010, -83.5458760

18. Ingram Cemetery
Ezel, Morgan County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8668880, -83.4561340

19. James Wells Cemetery
Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9016670, -83.4963890

20. Pieratt Cemetery
Ezel, Morgan County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8642710, -83.4512630

21. Spradlin's Pine Grove Cemetery
Ezel, Morgan County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8995031, -83.4820004

22. Earnest Landrum Cemetery
Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9010353, -83.5528946

23. Denniston Cemetery
Denniston, Menifee County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9067001, -83.5535965

24. Pieratt Cemetery
Maytown, Morgan County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8470360, -83.4409150