Mrs. Karla Vander Wilt, age 55, of Hospers, passed away on Saturday, October 31, 2009, at the Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City.

There will be a funeral service on Thursday, November 5, at 10:00am, at the Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. Robert Drenten will officiate. Interment will follow at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. Visitation with the family present will be on Wednesday, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, at the CHURCH. Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

Karla Beth was born on March 1, 1954, in Orange City, the daughter of Paul and Marge B. (Caswell) Visser. She was raised in several towns, including Racine, Wisconsin, and New Holland, South Dakota, and finally Orange City, where she graduated from Unity Christian High School.

On June 29, 1973, she married Arthur Jay Vander Wilt in Orange City. For the first three years of their marriage, they lived in San Diego, California. They have since made their home on a farm near Hospers, where she was a homemaker. There, she also operated Red Roof Refinishing, working on furniture for others.

Karla was a member of the Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, where she was involved in many activities and served on several committees. At home, she enjoyed golfing, gardening, her dogs, home decorating, and especially, being with her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband of more than 36 years, Art: four daughters and their husbands, Rashelle and Larry Theis, of Reno, Nevada; Sabrina and Randy Smit, of Clear Lake; Tabitha and Joel Van Soelen, of Anaheim, California; and Amanda and Scott Van Andel, of Denver, Colorado; a son, Jonathan Vander Wilt, of Hospers; ten grandchildren, Emma, Sydnee, and Carsen Theis; Caleb, Chloe, and Anna Smit; Jonah and Isabelle Van Soelen; and Devon and Klara Van Andel; her mother, Marge Visser, of Orange City; four sisters, Belinda, and her husband, Dan Pluim, and Valerie, and her husband, Randy Droog, all of Orange City; Carol, and her husband, Doug Bootsma, of Sanborn; and Donna Vander Linden, of Cerritos, California; and a brother, Paul Visser, of Orange City.

She was preceded in death by her father.