Obituary of Berneice Lorraine Hugen

Funeral services for Bea Hugen will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 27, 2009, at the Community Reformed Church in Newton. Friends may call at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton after 10:00 a.m. Thursday. The family will greet friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be designated to the Park Centre Good Samaritan Fund or to the Skiff Medical Center Foundation and may be left at the church or at the funeral home. Berneice "Bea" Lorraine Hugen, the daughter of Asa Niemantsverdriet and Jennie Wilma Van Peursem, was born August 16, 1919, on the family farm in rural Otley, Iowa. On June 11, 1941, Bea was united in marriage with Wilbur Bert Hugen on the farm in Otley. Bea enjoyed staying busy. She had worked for J.C. Penny's, Singer Sewing Machine Company, for Dr. Norris and Dr. Forsythe, owned and operated B's Christian Bookstore, waitress/ hostess at various locations, was manager of Parkside Apartments, started and managed the little store at Park Centre for 12 years. Bea also enjoyed serving in her community. She was a member of the Newton Community Reformed Church, Business and Professional Women's Club, Newton Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Youth for Christ, Kellogg Historical Society, Ambassadors, and Newton Salvation Army board member. In her spare time Bea enjoyed singing, craftwork, gardening, flowers, working garage sales, and helping others. Bea and Wilbur enjoyed their lake home and neighbors at Rock Creek for 50 years. Bea died on Sunday, March 22, 2009, at Park Centre Health Care Center in Newton. She was 89 years old. Bea was preceded in death by her parents, her brother-in-law, John VandeNoord and sister-in-law, Viola VanDerWeele. Those left to honor Bea's memory include her husband of 67 years, Wilbur Hugen of Newton, Iowa; her son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Ruth Hugen of Des Moines, Iowa; her grandsons, Scott and Robin Hugen of Rochester Hills, Michigan, Matthew and Jill Hugen of Ankeny, Iowa and Todd Hugen of Carlisle, Iowa; her four great grandchildren, Greta, Alissa, Rebecca and Timothy; and her sisters, Viola VandeNoord of Pella, Iowa and Leola and Virgil Klein of Pella, Iowa.