Arlene Wynia, age 92, of Luverne, Minnesota, died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, at the Luverne Hospice Cottage.
Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 13, from 4 t0 7 p.m. at the American Reformed Church in Luverne. Funeral service will be Saturday, Jan. 14, at 2 p.m. at the church. Burial will follow at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne. Arrangements are under the care of Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. To view Arlene’s LifeTribute video or sign an online registry, please visit www.hartquistfuneral.com.
Arlene Joann Wynia was born on May 28, 1930, to Clarence and Rena (Wissink) Den Herder in Sioux Center, Iowa. On July 6, 1930, she was baptized at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Arlene attended country school and graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1947.
On Sept. 7, 1951, Arlene was united in marriage to Melvin J. Wynia at her parents’ home in Sioux Center. After obtaining her teaching certification, she taught in country school until Melvin’s discharge from the Army in 1953. The couple then made their home in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and farmed there until 1964, when they purchased a farm near Luverne. In 1995 they left the farm and moved to a home in town. On Nov. 12, 2003, Melvin preceded Arlene in death. Arlene continued to live in her own home until August 2018 when she moved to Poplar Creek. In February 2019, she became a resident of the Good Samaritan – Mary Jane Brown nursing home.
First and foremost, Arlene was a loving wife and devoted mother to her very grateful family. She was a member of the American Reformed Church where she taught Sunday school for several years, belonged to the Rebecca Circle, and played piano for choirs, quartets, and other singers and events. Arlene also volunteered at Justice for All, Booking Buddies, and made quilts with church friends. She was grateful for the opportunity to travel the country on bus trips during her free time and truly treasured the time she spent supporting the activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Arlene was a devoted wife and mother who was a model of Christian love, patience, and unselfishness for her family and others who knew her.
She is lovingly remembered by her children and grandchildren: Merlin and Debra Wynia of Luverne and their children Julie (Adam) Brown, Cara (Ernie) Flemig, and Ryan (Corey) Wynia; David and Rhonda Wynia of Luverne and their children Rachel (Andrew) Gregoire, Lanae (Nick) Brown, and Spencer (Jenna) Wynia; Charlene Feikema of Luverne and her children Shawn (Becky) Feikema, Michael (Staci) Feikema, and Ross (Lisa) Feikema; Marla and Victor Van Dyk of Sioux Falls and their children Gabrielle (Mark) Lindberg, Nichole (Brian) Van Hill, and Krista (Taylor) Rignell; Carol and Warren Sandbulte of Luverne and their daughter Kimberly (Ryan) Sandbulte-Drake; Janna and Brad Klarenbeek of Luverne and their children Paul (Megan) Klarenbeek, Emily Cowell, and Shelby (Brett) Rozenboom; Delores Peery of Sioux Falls and her children Carson Peery and Sydney Peery; and Roger and Julie Wynia of Luverne and their children Leah Wynia and Piper Wynia.
She is also lovingly remembered by her sister-in-law, Frances Wynia of Sioux Center, Iowa; and twenty-six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin; parents, Clarence and Rena Den Herder; sons-in-law, Matt Peery and Chuck Feikema; grandson-in-law, Zach Cowell; great-grandson, Ethan Brown; sisters, Gertrude Leusink and Genevieve Leusink; brothers-in-law, Gerrit John Leusink and Gerrit Henry Leusink; mother- and father-in-law; three other brothers-in-law; and four sisters-in-law.
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