August 13, 1941 – August 3, 2023

Eleanor Schoolmeester, age 81, of Edgerton, Minn., died August 3, 2023, at her home.

A memorial service was held Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, at First Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton with Pastor Scott Muilenburg officiating. Interment was in the Edgerton Hillside Cemetery.

Music was provided by organist Vel Kooiman, and the congregation singing Be Thou My Vision, Come Ye Disconsolate, When Peace Like A River, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, and Abide With Me.

Pallbearers were Tyler Bork, Eric Schoolmeester, Amanda Bork, Luke Schoolmeester, Ashley Bork, Jacob Schoolmeester, Michael Schoolmeester, Seth Vander Pol, Sadie Vander Pol, Spencer Vander Pol, Kayle Schoolmeester, and Kristen Henderson.

Honorary pallbearers were Denise Schoolmeester, Brett Martens, Nicole Martens, Colin Moeller, Brittany Moeller, Axel Moeller, Ryker Moeller, Westin Moeller, Kathryn Lien, Kennedi Lien-Martens, and Beckett Martens.

Eleanor Faye Schoolmeester was born August 13, 1941, on the farm near Rock Valley, Iowa, to Dick and Willie Hendricks. Eleanor was followed by the birth of her brothers Dennis and Rick, and her sister Donna. The Hendricks family moved to Omaha, Nebr., and then back to Rock Valley. They then moved to a farm by Inwood, Iowa. While there, Eleanor attended country school and Inwood Christian School. Later, the family moved to a farm in Luverne, and then to a farm by Lake Benton. After high school, Eleanor worked at Pine Rest Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich. She then moved to Willmar, Minn., to attend nursing school, where she became an LPN. Eleanor worked at Rock Rapids Hospital after attaining her LPN credentials.

Eleanor met Virgil at a roller-skating party in Rock Rapids on “Dutchmen’s Night.” They married on March 1, 1963. Virgil and Eleanor farmed by Edgerton. Eleanor volunteered at the Bible Thrift store, Right to Life (Pro Life board) SWMN, and the Crisis Pregnancy Center in Worthington. She worked as an LPN in Rock Rapids, the Pipestone hospital, and Edgebrook Care Center. She worked as an aide for home health in Rock County. She enjoyed helping Virgil on the farm with the hogs and field work, and tending to the farm cats. She had many friends in the Red Hat Society and County Extension. 

Eleanor died August 3, 2023, at her home. 

 To this union four children were born. Mary (Randy) Sawyer of Story, Wyo., Bryan (Ulonda) Schoolmeester of Hurley, S.D., Brenda (Vince) Vander Pol of Clara City, Minn., Jason (Kimberly) Schoolmeester of Sioux Falls, S.D.; 12 grandchildren, Tyler Bork, Amanda (Aaron) Nichols, Ashley Bork, Michael (Justine) Schoolmeester , Eric Schoolmeester, Kayla Schoolmeester, Seth Vander Pol, Sadie Vander Pol, Spencer Vander Pol, Kristen Henderson, Luke Schoolmeester Jacob Schoolmeester, five great-grandchildren: Charlotte Nichols, Lucy Nichols, Kendrick Schoolmeester, Lily Schoolmeester, and Oliver Anderson.

 Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents, Dick and Willie, brother, Dennis Hendricks, and son-in-law, Brian Bork. 

She is survived by her husband, Virgil, and her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.