Anna Slegers Zylstra

Anna Rena Vander Poel was born on January 30, 1926 to Jacob Bastian and Anna (Offringa) Vander Poel in Osborne Township, Pipestone County, Minnesota. Dr. Boer drove to the farm with a handmaiden/nurse to assist with the birth. Anna attended country school through the 8th grade. During her childhood years her father, Jacob, dealt with many hardships: horses dying, hogs getting sick and dying, and even Anna's grandfather becoming ill from this as well. Her father needed help and petitioned for Anna's brother, Jilles to stay home from the war but the Draft Board said that having Anna's mother, Anna, and her sisters at home was plenty of help to keep the farm going. It was decided that Anna would leave home in order for the Board to consider allowing Jilles to stay on the farm and help. Anna moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan at 16 years old where her mother's relatives lived. She worked for Hays Bomb and Shoots which was a parachute factory. On VE Day she was laid off. She was called back after that but did not return. Many service people went home or west, she decided to go home. A short while later the opportunity arose to go with a friend to Denver, Colorado. She worked for a wealthy family for the lady of the house as she had broken her hip and needed maid service. She returned to Minnesota and met Hubert Slegers and the two were united in marriage on September 6, 1949 when he had returned from the war. The two made their home in Lake Benton, Minnesota where they raised their four children. Hubert preceded Anna in death in March 1969. In December of 1983 she was united in marriage to Donald Zylstra and the two lived near Edgerton, Minnesota until his death in November of 2019. She returned to Lake Benton, Minnesota and lived on the family farm until moving into the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, Minnesota in January of 2024. She passed away there on Monday, June 24, 2024 at the age of 98 years. 

Anna was a member of the Christian Reformed Churches in Holland and Pipestone, Minnesota. She loved gardening, canning, and cooking. She had a passion for sewing, rug making, clothing pattern making, drapery sewing, quilting (blankets for children), crocheting, knitting, and doing other crafts. She also loved to spend time reading. She was a woman who daily devoted her life to being a faithful Christian. When she was complimented on her children's good characters she would humbly reply, "It's from their Dad." 

Anna is lovingly remembered by her children, Gerrit (Tamara) Slegers of Lake Benton, Minnesota, Karen (Danny) Moore of Clarksville, Tennessee, Hubert (Angela) Slegers of Hilmar, California, and Ardyth Little of Turlock, California; seven grandchildren, Gerrit Jr., Shaun & Nathan Slegers, Jason Moore, Janet Davenport, Jessi Daniels, and Amy Mancebo; 13 great-grandchildren, Gerrit III, Theodore and Natalie Slegers, Kensley Slegers, Carter and Cooper Slegers, Alysa Polley, Paige Moore, Jaxon and Colton Daniels, Leo, Kassidy, and Logan Mancebo; and one brother, Roger (Ruth) Vander Poel of Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Hubert Slegers and Donald Zylstra; her parents, Jacob and Anna Vander Poel; siblings, Marie, Jilles "Jill", Irene, Bertha, Albertus and Theo; and two grandsons, Darrick and Jerry Moore.