She was born to her beloved parents Dr. Frank L. Shipman and Lillian Bentley Shipman in Lamoni, Iowa on May 17, 1930. She is preceded in death by her husband Keith Marvin Van Nieuwenhuyze, her brother Frank Shipman Jr., her sister Yvonne Hammer, and her daughter Leilani Van Nieuwenhuyze.
LeahNe' attended school in Lamoni, Iowa and furthered her education at Graceland College. This is were she met her husband Keith Marvin Van Nieuwenhuyze. They were married at Graceland College on June 24, 1949. The two moved on to Memphis, TN to set up their new home and resided there the rest of their lives.
LeahNe' began her active life as a volunteer. She loved helping in every way with her children's school activites and their outside activities. She loved serving the Lord and others. She taught many children for many years in Sunday school, vacation Bible school, and wrote many puppet scripts for the children's puppetry at church. She sent out cards for the church to those that were sick. She stood in the cold greeting people for the live Nativity presented every year at her church. She sang in the choir at church and also a chorus every week until her last days here on earth. LeahNe loved people. Although she never called Hawaii home, she embodied the Aloha spirit of her ancestory.
LeahNe' will be missed by many for her generous nature, enormous heart and beautiful smile. She always put others before her.
LeahNe' is survived by her brother William “Bill” Shipman and wife Joyce Shipman from Memphis, TN, children Laura Van Nieuwenhuyze Owen and her husband John Owen from Raleigh, NC, Robin Van Nieuwenhuyze from Memphis, TN, and Gavin Van Nieuwenhuyze and his wife Melinda Van Nieuwenhuyze from Memphis, TN. Grandchildren Stephanie Armstrong and husband Mark Armstrong from Raleigh, NC, Kendal Quinn and wife Lisa Quinn from Wendell, NC, Keith Quinn from Gainesville, FL, Hollye Van Nieuwenhuyze Dotson and her husband Kevin Dotson from Memphis, TN, Jessica Cohen and husband Bennie Cohen from Memphis, TN., Zachary Van Nieuwenhuyze and Adam LaClave from Nashville, TN and eight great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Community of Christ Church 3548 Brunswick Road, Memphis, TN. Visitation will begin Saturday, April 6th at 10:00 a.m. and the service at 11:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in memory of LeahNe' Van Nieuwenhuyze to Dementia Society of America by mail to P.O. Box 600 Doylestown PA 18901 or online www.DementiaSociety.org/donate
Arrangements by Family Funeral Care 4925 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN 38122
