Velma Burnham, 89, of Grinnell, died on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at St. Francis Manor and under the care of Care Initiatives Hospice. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, April 14, 2023 at the Grinnell Friends Church. The family will receive friends for visitation prior to the service at the church beginning at 9:00 am. A luncheon will follow the service at the church. Memorials may be designated to the Grinnell Friends Church or Care Initiatives Hospice and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Velma’s family online at www.smithfh.com. Velma Irene Yoder was born on December 10, 1933, in Kalona, Iowa to Daniel S. and Fannie (Beachy) Yoder. She confessed her faith in Christ and was baptized at the age of thirteen and loved the Lord with all her heart. She attended Kalona schools and several years later graduated from the Practical School of Nursing in La Junta, Colorado. In 1970 she graduated from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado obtaining her degree while she worked at a local hospital. On March 24, 1973, she was united in marriage to Achim Niosalke, of Loon Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada. They had two sons, Eric Conrad and an adopted son, Timothy Philip. She enjoyed being a wife, mother, and Oma to her grandchildren. She and Achim traveled to Germany to visit his relatives and enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Alaska, Israel and trips home to Iowa and family. Velma was married to Robert Burnham on October 4, 2008 and resided in Grinnell. She was a member of the Grinnell Friends Church. Both in Canada and Grinnell, she enjoyed teaching Sunday School, serving on various committees, Bible studies and prayer groups. She treasured the privilege of praying for others and had an active Prayer Line Phone Ministry out of Canada. Velma had a servant’s heart and was always looking for ways to minister to others. She was known for her generous hospitality. She was always taking food to those in need, having coffee with friends, and looking for opportunities to get to know others and sharing her love for the Lord. She especially enjoyed flowers, gathering them from the garden and roadsides, making arrangements to give to others to brighten their day. Throughout her life in Iowa, Colorado, and Canada she went camping and fishing with her husbands, but always had a book to read as that was her most favorite pastime. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Bob Burnham; her children, Eric and Tim; granddaughters, Keshia Bayley and Leandra Nioslke; her god -children, Rebecca and Nathaniel Vielhauer, all from Canada; siblings, Ezra Yoder (Faye) Highland Ranch, CO, Erma Edwards (Delvin Coppinger) of Iowa City, IA, Robert (Joleen) Yoder of Rutland, VT, sister-in-law Linda Yoder of Morgantown, W. VA and Raymond Yoder of Kalona, IA; step-children, Bruce (Robin) Burnham of Kingsley, IA, Kathy (Lowell) Vanderploeg of Grinnell; 10 step-grandchildren and great grandchildren; 1 great, great step grandson; and her nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Achim in 2003; siblings, Delmar Ray Yoder in 2015, sister Glori Faye Yoder in 2018; and stepson, Steven Burnham in 1987.
Funeral arragements: A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, April 14, 2023 at the Grinnell Friends Church. The family will receive friends for visitation prior to the service at the church beginning at 9:00 am. A luncheon will follow the service at the church. Memorials may be designated to the Grinnell Friends Church or Care Initiatives Hospice and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Velma’s family online at www.smithfh.com.
Birth info: December 10, 1933 in Kalona, IA
Death info: February 7, 2023 in Grinnell, Iowa
Photo: attached
Submitted by: Joel Smith
Phone: 641-236-3134
Email: sfhgrinnell@gmail.com
