Verla J. Hannink

August 31, 1930 - July 8, 2015 Verla Jeane Hannink went to her heavenly home on July 8, 2015. She was born in Prairie View, Kansas on August 31, 1930 to Henry & Alberta Schemper. She was a wonderful mother and her sudden death leaves a gap in many lives.Verla spent her first five years in Prairie View, Kansas until her family decided to move to California in 1935 due to the economic severity of the Dust Bowl. They settled in the Los Angeles area for 10 years, got back on their feet and enjoyed what a metropolitan area offered. In 1945 her family again made a significant move, this time to the Modesto area where Verla met her late husband and love of her life, Ernest, at the Young People's Group. She graduated from Ripon Christian High School in 1948. In February of 1949 she married Ernest. The Modesto/Empire area was where they raised their eight children with the exception of a short stint of 3 years in Bellflower, California. She became very fond of the agriculture richness in the Central Valley.As a young lady, Verla spent short periods of time in office work and in the fruit canneries. But, soon after her marriage she realized that being a homemaker was her gift. As she dedicated her life to her husband and eight children, she enjoyed gardening, crafts including needlework and crocheting, jigsaw puzzles, playing Sudoku and baking. She also never missed an opportunity to play board games or card games with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At age 50, Verla realized her children were getting older so she decided to get her driver's license for the first time and again work outside the home. She spent 12 years along side her daughter, Mari, at a preschool as their cook. She was lovingly referred to as Grandma Verla, never missing an opportunity to give a needed hug to one of the cherished little ones. In 1992 she retired and spent 3 years with Ernest keeping very busy with activities that involved gardening and taking various trips in the United States until he passed in July of 1995.During the next 20 years Verla continued to live in her Empire home until she moved to Bethany Home in 2013. She continued to be very involved in family activities, traveling and attending the Modesto Christian Reformed Church where she was a long time member. Memories abound where family and friends enjoyed a cup of coffee and some of Verla's homemade cookies.Verla is preceded in death by her parents Henry & Alberta Schemper, her husband, Ernest, and infant daughter, Marcia (twin of Mari). She is survived by her siblings Loyd Schemper, Audrene Schmidt, and Frances (Leonard) VanNoord. She is also survived by her children Pam (Dennis) Beck, Doug (Kathy) Hannink, Tom (Debra) Hannink, Don (Leslie) Hannink, Laura (Bill) Einhell, Sandy (Mike) Walden, Mari (Joe) Nijskens, Nancy (Mark) Stoyer. She also leaves sister-in-laws Carol Hannink, Lois Hannink, Sylvia Hannink, Jan Hannink, Gert Viss, and Alma (Johnny) Overweg. In addition she leaves 22 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren (two others on their way) and many, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends she loved very much. A visitation will be held at Lakewood Memorial Park from 4 to 8 pm on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 in the Riverside Chapel. A family graveside service will be held at Lakewood Memorial Park on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 9:30 am, following that a Celebration of Life will be held at the Modesto Christian Reformed Church on Wednesday at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bethany Memorial Fund, the American Heart Association , or a charity of your choice .www.cvobituaries.com -