God saw that Elaine was tired and on April 13, 2022 He called her home. Elaine, 95, was born on December 20, 1926. She attended St. Nicholas Grade School and Freedom High School, graduating in 1945. On September 10, 1949 she married Jack Vanden Berg, building a home in Freedom where they raised their 6 children. Elaine worked for Coffey Insurance Agency until her first child was born. For the next 30-some years, Elaine raised her children, kept a home running (and her husband’s well-drilling business) and volunteered with the Christian Mothers, the Freedom Fire Department, V.F.W. Auxiliary and the Freedom Boy Scouts. Her kids could walk home during their school lunch breaks and Elaine always had a hot meal ready for them. Elaine also held the position of Freedom Town Treasurer for many years. After her children were raised, Elaine began working for Aid Association for Lutherans (Thrivent) until she and Jack retired to their lake home on Surprise Lake, Townsend.
Elaine is survived by her children: Diane (Jerry) DeBruin, Linda (Dave) Zuleger, Terry (Diane), Mike (Barbie), Barb (Bruce) Zuleger, Sue (Dave) Hietpas; her grandchildren: Peggy (Todd) Brokl, Jill (Luke) Markus, Chad Zuleger, Jason (Michelle) Zuleger, Brian (Bonnie Glover) Zuleger, Troy Vanden Berg, Jana (Cory) Hupf, Laura (Bob) Deering, Ted (Jenni) Vanden Berg, Ellen (Bo) Stumpf, Hannah Vanden Berg, Eric (Malynda) Zuleger, Melissa (Brett) Trautmann, Jessica (Dominic) Demerath, Stephanie (Nathan) Heppe, Michael Hietpas, Elizabeth (fiancé James Dickenson) Hietpas, Nicole (Sanjay) Murthy; her great-grandchildren: Paige, Emily, Tyler Brokl; Nora, Colin, Brady Markus; Addison, Adia, Deacon, Amara, Iris Zuleger; Grayson, Brynlee, Tristan, Gabe Hupf; Becca (Jake) Aquilar; Jack, Drew, Hudson Deering; Wyatt, Camden, Adeline, Lane Vanden Berg; Saylor, Crew Stumpf; Nolan, Quinn Zuleger; Andrew, Patrick Demerath; Isaac Heppe; Arjun Murthy; her great-great grandchildren Olivia and Kaja Aquilar; her sister, Darlene Newhouse, and a brother/sister-in law Jack and Marilyn Jahnke; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Meeting Elaine in heaven are her husband, Jack; her parents Albert and Ceil Huss; parents-in-law, Martin and Lene Vanden Berg; granddaughter, Amy DeBruin; brothers: Russ and Glenn Huss; sisters-in-law: Bonnie, Rosie, Beatta Huss; brother-in-law, Bob Newhouse; brothers and sisters-in-law: Marvin, Shirley Vanden Berg and Jerry, Sharon Jahnke.
Memorial services will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, April 29, 2022, at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church, N4086 Cty Rd E, Freedom. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Inurnment will take place in the parish cemetery after Mass, followed by a luncheon in the church hall. Memorials will be distributed to the Freedom Food Pantry and St. Nicholas School. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com.
To send flowers
to the family, please visit our floral store.