Grace P. Vander Velden, Kimberly, age 72, passed away peacefully with her family by her side Wednesday August 20, 2014 at Appleton Medical Center. She was born in Little Chute on February 6, 1942 to the late Clarence and Marie (Van Thiel) Bongers. Grace married Gene Vander Velden on November 4, 1961 at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church. She worked as an administrative assistant for the Kimberly School District and in the finance department for the Village of Little Chute before taking a position with the Town of Menasha, where Grace retired as Finance Director. She was an active member of Holy Spirit Parish, the Church Choir, Mission Club, and a Eucharistic Minister.

Growing up in Little Chute, she was a proud member of the Drum and Bugle Corps. When her girls were younger, Grace was a Girl Scout and Brownie Troop Leader. She and Gene were Florida 'snowbirds' enjoying the Cape Coral warmth with many good friends. She enjoyed bowling, fishing, horseshoes, and spending time with family and friends at the cottage in Pickerel. Grace was a member of Curves and loved seeing her friends there. Her passion for sewing led to hundreds of projects, with a special talent of matching outfits for her own daughters, continuing on to her Granddaughters and their dolls! Grace's incredible and unwavering strength, her compassion for others, and her everlasting faith in God, are traits every human being should emulate.

Grace will be sadly missed by her loving husband of 52 years, Gene; daughters: Sherry Vander Velden (Karen Roaten), Fort Worth, TX and Barbara (Tom) Van Asten, Freedom; grandchildren: Carissa, Kelsie, Kayla and Carlie Van Asten; siblings: Claire (Tom) Verhagen, Tom (Mary) Bongers, Cynthia (Greg) Mathe and Patricia Bongers-DeGroot.; brother and sisters-in-law: Bonnie Vander Velden and Ken (Karen) Vander Velden; her Godchildren: Ron, Beth, Jolene, Nic and Caitlin. She is further survived by nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents, Grace was preceded in death by her grandchild, Eli Van Asten; siblings: Mary Jane and David Bongers; and brothers and sister-in-law: Jerry and Jeff (Laurie) Vander Velden.

Visitation will be held Monday August 25, 2014 at HOLY SPIRIT PARISH – KIMBERLY CHURCH (600 E. Kimberly Ave. Kimberly) beginning at 1:00 p.m. until time of Funeral Mass at 4:00 p.m. The Rev. Robert Kollath will officiate. Committal St. John Cemetery.

Special thanks to Dr. Guenther and the staff at the Martha Siekman Cancer Center and AMC hospital.