Pearl I. (Veldhouse) Wilkinson

Pearl I. (Veldhouse) Wilkinson, 94, of Kanawha passed away Monday, November 9, 2015 at the Kanawha Community Home in Kanawha.

Funeral services for Pearl Wilkinson will be held on Friday, November 13, 2015, at 10:30 AM at the United Methodist Church, 402 North Main Street in Kanawha, with Pastor Mark Heath officiating. Burial will be held at Amsterdam Township Cemetery in Kanawha.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Thursday, November 12, 2015, at Ewing Funeral Home, 118 East Second Street in Kanawha, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.

Pearl Isabelle (Veldhouse) Wilkinson was born December 22, 1920 to John and Minnie (VanDusseldorp) Veldhouse on the family farm south west of Kanawha. She attended Norway Township #5 country school and later graduated from Kanawha High School.

Pearl was united in marriage to Benjamin Wilkinson on March 9, 1940 at Algona. The couple made their home on the Veldhouse family farm for a time before moving to rural Renwick for 5 years. Pearl and Ben moved back to rural Kanawha where they farmed together until retiring and moving to town in 1981.

Pearl enjoyed bowling in her younger years, and later spent time crocheting and quilting. She was part of a quilting group that met in Kanawha every week. She also kept a large garden and canned each year.

Pearl was a longtime member of the Kanawha United Methodist Church and was an active member of the ladies circle.

Pearl’s faith and her family were at the center of her life. She loved each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren both equally and uniquely. She enjoyed attending her family reunions every summer.

Pearl is survived by her children, Jon (Judy) Wilkinson and Jayne (Darrel) Schnell, all of Kanawha; grandchildren Todd Wilkinson of Ankeny, Tammy (Richard) Humpal of Ankeny, Sheri (Ron) Adam of Waukon, and Troy Wilkinson of Hudson, Wisconsin; step-grandchildren Duane (Dawn) Schnell, DeAnna Schnell, Jenny Schnell all of Estherville; great-grandchildren Jacob Humpal, Hannah Humpal, Brookelyn Adam, Drew Adam, Elizabeth Humpal, Danielle Wilkinson and Jeremiah Wilkinson; step-great-grandchildren Gracie and Seth Schnell, Joshua and Joel Ryan; along with numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Pearl was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ben in January of 1999, sister Jennie Arends and her husband Richard and brother Marion Veldhouse and his wife Ila.