VANDER LEEK, Barbara It is with sorrow but also with peace and joy that we announce that Barbara Vander Leek of Rocky Mountain House went to be with her Lord and Saviour on Sunday, October 1, 2006, at the age of 77 years. She is survived by her husband George Vander Leek and four children Wilma (Bill) Tensen, Marilyn (Bill) Smid, Judy (John) OpdenDries of Rocky Mountain House, Rev. Andrew (Irene) VanderLeek of Vernon, B.C., grandchildren Norman (Dianne) Tensen, Robert (Wanda) Tensen, Jody (Des) Tensen, Melonie (Dean) Michaud, James (Lori) Smid, Corrin (Phillip) Brouwer, Stacey Smid, David (Linn) OpdenDries, Cindy (Doug) Sim, Ian OpdenDries, Rev. Lisa VanderLeek, Joshua VanderLeek, Marcus VanderLeek, and Joel VanderLeek and 12 precious great-grandchildren. Barbara is also survived by her sisters Pim Veeneman, Hilly Scholten, Evelyn (Jack) Feenstra and brother Henk (Shirley) Kikstra as well as many dear neices and nephews. Barbara was predeceased by her mother Wopkje Kikstra in 1940, her father Dirk Kikstra in 1961 and one brother Klaas Kikstra in 1981. Barbara (Boukje) was born in Franeker, Friesland, The Netherlands, October 14, 1928. She spent many hours working in the family grocery store in Appeldoorn during the tumultuous times of World War II. She immigrated with her family to Blackfalds, Alberta, at the age of 19. She worked as a nurse's aid at Lacombe hospital and later at PTS in Red Deer (Michner Centre), hoping to save enough money to return to The Netherlands and all that was familiar. However, while living in Blackfalds, she met and married the love of her life, George VanderLeek, on April18, 1951 and in 1954 they moved to Rocky Mountain House with their two young daughters Wilma and Marilyn, to farm in the Frisco area. Her industrious, determined nature helped bring the family through those years of hard pioneering work as their family grew with the birth of Judy and later Andrew. She delivered mail during the 60's in RR#1, was active in the Christian Reformed Church and played an important role in the operation of the family businesses of G&G Greenhouses and V&O Lumber. She suffered greatly from the pain and crippling effects of arthritis and the resulting numerous surgeries. She had a passion for sewing, crocheting, knitting, baking and cooking which she continued into her retirement years as her health would allow. She is fondly remembered as an amazing woman of great faith in God and unswerving dedication and concern for the spiritual well- being of her family. We as her children are proud to call her Mom. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on Thursday, October 5th, 2006 at 1:30 p.m. at the First Christian Reformed Church, Rocky Mountain House, with Rev. L. Batterink officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Palliative Care Unit of the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the many family and friends that have stood at our side during this difficult time. Also thank you to the doctors and the nurses at Rocky Hospital for the kind and compassionate care shown to Barb over the years and especially during these last weeks. Rocky and Sylvan Lake Funeral Homes and Crematorium, your Golden Rule Funeral Home, entrusted with the arrangements 403-845-2626