Wilma P. (Beenken) Luppen

Wilma Phyllis (Beenken) Luppen left her earthly home to be with her lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 4, 2009. She passed away in the Hospice Room at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt surrounded by her family, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Funeral services for Wilma Luppen will be held Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church with Pastor Steve Schulz officiating. Burial will be in Amsterdam Township Cemetery in Kanawha.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 6, 2009 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West, in Britt and will continue one hour prior to services at church.

Wilma was the second child of Henry and Vergie (Kardoes) Beenken. She was born on August 4, 1937 on her parent’s farm near Woden, Iowa. She has four siblings who are Merlin (Marlis) Beenken, Wayne (Luming) Beenken, Sharon (Dennis) Heinen and Daryl (Nancy) Beenken. She attended the Ramsey Reformed and Woden Christian Reformed Churches when growing up. She was both a baptized and confirmed member of the Christian Faith.   When she was a young girl, Wilma stayed with her Grandpa and Grandma Kardoes on a farm near Buffalo Center, Iowa quite often, where she helped take care of them and do household chores. She attended and graduated from the Woden Community Schools where she participated in basketball and speech. She was also active in 4-H.

On February 10, 1956, Wilma married the love of her life, Philip D. Luppen of Kanawha. They were married at the Woden Christian Reformed Church by the Reverend Julius VandenHoek. They made their home together with their children three miles north of Kanawha. She and Phil are members of the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church. Here they were blessed with seven children: Donna (Leroy) Senne, LuAnn (Nick) Studer, Brenda (Chuck) Schmidt, Paul (Cheryl) Luppen, Charlotte (Mike) Hrubes, Julene (Randy) Weiland and Allan (Linda) Luppen. Their children in turn blessed them with 21 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren who are: Matthew Senne, Jason Senne, Andrew Senne, Adam Senne, Shawn (Tiffany) Studer and their children Madison, Tate, and Emrie; Gregory (Theresa) Studer and their children Dawson and Savanah; Troy Studer, Jacki Studer, Kacie Schmidt, Jamie Schmidt, Cody Schmidt, MaKayla Luppen, Tierra Luppen, Lacey (Tony) Kelley and their children Amara and Coewhan; Joshua Hrubes, Brandi Hrubes, Cole Weiland, Seth Weiland, Ethan Luppen, Eric Luppen, and her angel Alyssa Luppen.

Wilma was a wonderful wife, mother and homemaker. Her grandchildren were very important to her. She enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening, cooking, baking and spending time outdoors.   She worked at the Kanawha Community Nursing Home and Team Sports in Kanawha, Interstate Traveller in Belmond, and helped her husband of 53 years farm and raise their children.

Wilma is also survived by her sister-in-law Birdene (Howard) Jutting, many nieces and nephews, and stepsiblings Sharon (Dewey) Valentine, Clinton (Cherann) Eden and Ardith (Gary) Thorson.

Wilma was preceded in death by her grandparents, her parents Henry and Virgie Beenken, her parents-in-law Peter and Edith Luppen and her stepmother Ella Beenken.