May 31, 1944– April 15, 2025

Gladys Vander Pol, 80, passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Funeral services were held Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Bethel Christian Reformed Church, Edgerton, 1:00 p.m., with Pastor Marlin Van Schepen officiating.  Interment was in Hillside Cemetery, Edgerton.

Casketbearers were Micah Brands, Matthew Brands, Riley Vander Pol, Victor Julien, Noah Vander Pol, Elijah Vander Pol, Caleb Beckering,  and Bennet Beckering. Honorary casketbearers were Maria Kraemer, Kiara Oltman, Trinity Vander Pol, Maddie Brands, Natalie Vander Pol, Rose Vander Pol, Kylie Beckering, and Avery Beckering.

Gladys (DeBoer) Vander Pol was born in Redlands, California, on May 31, 1944, to Rev. Peter and Gertrude (Vermeer) DeBoer. She was the youngest of 7 children. When Gladi was born, Gertrude was ill, so a church family took her in for the first year of her life.

At the age of 4, Gladi and her family relocated to Edgerton, Minnesota. She attended the Free Christian School until 5th grade where her sister Beth was her teacher for 2 years. She then attended Edgerton Christian Grade School transitioning to Southwest Minnesota Christian High School and graduating in 1962. Prior to graduating high school, her dad was called to pastor a church in Sioux Falls, so for Gladi’s last 2 years of high school, she lived in an apartment above her brother Hein’s house with Stella (Vanden Bosch) Menning who became a lifelong friend. Following graduation, Gladi attended Dordt College for 1 year. She then went on to 3 years of nurses training at Sioux Valley School of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse.

Mike and Gladi began dating while Gladi was in nursing school and they married August 24, 1966. For the first 10 years of their married life, Gladi and Mike settled in Edgerton while Gladi worked at Edgebrook Care Center and Mike taught Junior High at ECES. In 1976, they moved out to the family farm southwest of Edgerton. Gladi continued working at Edgebrook and managing the household, taking a year or two off after each child was born to attend to their needs.  Gladi loved spending time with family. Each summer Mike, Gladi and their children (at times with other families) took camping vacations in a variety of places throughout the United States. Larger family vacations with grandkids continued every few years even after the kids moved out of the house. As empty nesters, Mike and Gladi enjoyed annual Labor Day weekend motorcycle trips with a group of 7+ couples for over 20 years; they also appreciated getting away together during the coldest winter months first to Florida and then to Arizona. Gladi loved playing games with grandkids and friends; she was usually one of the first ones to get a game started at holiday gatherings. Gladi was very competitive and even this last winter competed in a bocce ball tournament. Gladi prioritized championing her grandkids in their many different activities and those activities would take precedence over any other social invite. Gladi also enjoyed watching college basketball and the Yankees with Mike when they had a quiet evening at home together. Gladi had a servant heart even in the little things like serving the best pieces of pie, cake and bars to guests and taking the misshapen, smallest for herself (if needed, Mike would also be included in this act of service).

In Gladi’s final days she demonstrated her lived-out faith by being peace-filled about what was ahead. When Gladi was diagnosed with liver cancer in early March, instead of asking, “Why me?” she said, “Why not me?” Her pastor arrived for a visit in the hospital, and Gladi’s eyes fluttered open and she confidently said, “I am going home, I am going home. That is where I belong.” As her journey home progressed and it was difficult for her to talk, she used what energy she had to bless us with encouragement by saying, “I love you _____,” or “Thank-you for helping me,” or “God is good.”

Gladi is survived by her loving husband Mike of 58 years and her children: Vonda (Tim) Brands of Chanhassen, Minn., Ryan (Courtney) Vander Pol of O’Fallon, Mo., Kirk Vander Pol of Willmar, Minn., and Laura (Dan) Beckering of Chaska, Minn.; 16 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren; her siblings: Pier DeBoer, Beth Vanden Berg, Hein (Iva) DeBoer, Joan Pool, Mel DeBoer and Alyce Ten Cate; and her in-laws: Nelson (Joan) Vander Pol, Vernon (Mina) Vander Pol, Lila Clapp, Will (Christine) Vander Pol and Warren (Pat) Vander Pol; and many special cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Most importantly, Gladi is survived by Jesus Christ and because He lives, so does she!