Winifred Fylstra Obituary

Fylstra, Winifred Rameau
Winifred Rameau Fylstra, known as Wendy to her friends, passed into the arms of the Lord on August 13, 2014. She was 93 years old. Wendy was born on May 1, 1921, in Kalamazoo, MI, to Harry and Margaret Rameau. She and her sisters were the first women in their family to attend college. Wendy attended Hope College in Holland, MI where she met her future husband, Daniel H. Fylstra. Wendy graduated summa cum laude, was the class Valedictorian, and Dan was the Salutatorian. Dan and Wendy were married for 55 years until his death in 1999. During the first years of their marriage, she taught high school in Grand Rapids, MI. After raising four children, she returned to teaching English, French, and Latin in San Diego high schools. After moving to Phoenix in 1970, she worked for the City of Phoenix and later as a social worker for the Arizona Department of Economic Security. She retired and lived many happy years at Westminster Village in Scottsdale. In addition to her professional work, Wendy served congregations as a minister's wife and leader at Fairview Reformed in Grand Rapids, MI; First Reformed in Lansing, IL; Bethel Reformed in Bellflower, CA; Family Reformed in San Diego; and Longview Reformed in Phoenix. Wendy was a loving mother, a minister's wife, a high school teacher, a social worker, a great listener and good friend to everyone she met. Above all, she was a devout Christian and she has been reunited with her husband at last. Wendy was preceded by her husband, Dan, and her sister, Edith Eenigenburg. She is survived by her four children, Raymond, of Hinsdale, IL; Daniel, of Incline Village, NV; David, of Sunnyvale, CA; Mary, of Phoenix, AZ; and her sister Lois Kleis of Kalamazoo, MI . She is loved by her grandchildren, Helen, Margaret, Henry, Julianne, Nicholas, Heidi, and Emily. A funeral will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 10:00 am at Kilgore Chapel, Valley Presbyterian Church, Paradise Valley, AZ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Valley Presbyterian Foundation, 6947 E. McDonald Dr., Paradise Valley, AZ 85253.