Fred Mulder

FRED MULDER was born on March 12, 1926 to Ben and Anna (Brantsen) Mulder on the farm west of Doon, Iowa. He was raised here and attended country school through the eighth grade. Following his education he remained on the farm working the land with his parents. On February 22, 1950, Fred was united in marriage to Johanna Meendering at the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley, Iowa. The couple rented a farm near Doon and farmed the land until 1959. The family then moved and farmed land north of Rushmore, Minnesota. In 1975, Fred and Jo purchased a farm northwest of Ellsworth, Minnesota where they continued to farm until their retirement in 2000. At this time they purchased a home in Luverne, Minnesota. Fred enjoyed fixing up the home and caring for the yard. On Tuesday, April 5, 2011 Fred died peacefully at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage at the age of 85 years and 23 days.

Fred was a member of the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne. He served as a deacon in the church in Luverne and Worthington and also participated as a member of Senior Men’s Bible Study. Fred lived a simple life and through the years he enjoyed his farming, livestock, yard work, and his grandchildren.

Fred is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jo; two daughters, Judy and her husband Harry Molling of Kentwood, Michigan, and Audrey and her husband Bob Rentschler of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; three grandchildren, Michael Molling and his fianc Cara Noordyke, Daniel Molling, and Rachel Rentschler; two sisters-in-law, Etta Mulder and Kathryn Mulder, both of Rock Valley; a brother-in-law, John and Minnie Den Boer of Worthington, Minnesota, and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Anna; four sisters, Lillian Vande Vegte, Ella Brinkman, Gert DeVries, and Margaret Den Boer; and four brothers, Ray, John, Tom and Ben Mulder.