Virginia VanWyngarden

WEST DES MOINES -- Virginia VanWyngarden, 83, of Des Moines, formerly of Wayland, died Thursday, June 1, 2017, in Trinity Center in Des Moines.

A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 24, at Wayland Mennonite Church. Memorial contributions may be directed to Alzheimer?s Association Chapter Headquarters, 1730 28th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50266. Hamilton?s Funeral Home in West Des Moines is handling arrangements.

Mrs. VanWyngarden was born Aug. 18, 1933, in Wayland, the daughter of Alvin and Geneva Boshart. She married the love of her life, George VanWyngarden, on June 5, 1976.

She graduated from Wayland High School in 1952 and obtained Dental Assistant Certification in 1962. She spent many years working in the dental field, including work as an Expanded Function Dental Assistant from 1972 to 1976 at the University of Iowa Dental College in Iowa City, and work as a Dental Assisting Instructor from 1976 to 1979 at the Omaha College of Health Careers in Omaha, Nebraska. After moving to Des Moines in 1984, she worked until 1992 as a library assistant at the AIB College of Business, where her husband was employed as a computer instructor. She loved people, had an infectious smile, and was always concerned about others. She was a lifelong quilter, a skill she learned at a young age growing up with a Mennonite background, which she always treasured.

Surviving are her husband of almost 41 years, George; one sister, Lu Ann Ladwig and husband Arnold of Denver, Colorado; one brother, Norman Boshart and wife Ermadine of Wayland; and many friends and relatives.