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.