Genevieve Arlene Kuyper

Genevieve Arlene Kuyper, 94, passed away December 9, 2014. Services will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 600 6th Ave. in Des Moines on Tuesday, December 16 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. Burial will be at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines.

Genevieve was born in Des Moines, IA on November 1, 1920 to Clyde and Dora Belle Roberts. She graduated from East High School in 1939 and worked at the telephone company and eventually became the music librarian for WHO Radio during the time of “live” musical programming. In addition, her photograph was seen in Look magazine and in beauty articles in the Des Moines Register and Tribune. In 1942 Genevieve married Farrell W. Kuyper in San Antonio, TX where he was stationed in the Army. After returning from WWII in 1945, Genevieve and Farrell made their home in Des Moines and had two children. They were married 62 years until Farrell’s death in 2002.

After the children were grown, Genevieve worked for the Des Moines Public School District as the Administrative Assistant to two Superintendents and to the School Board until her retirement. She was also an accomplished pianist with an extraordinary talent playing classical to pop music. She enjoyed many activities and memberships including being an Elder at St. John’s Lutheran Church, a member of Eastern Star, Des Moines Garden Club Past President, East High Alumni Association, and Beta Sigma Phi Business Sorority.

She is survived by her son, Farrell “Kip” (LuAnn) Kuyper; daughter, Jeannine (Bruce) Brande; granddaughters, Meredith (Paul Goldberg) Miller, Briana Kuyper, and Pam (Ron) Hults; grandsons, Nathan Miller and Troy Hartshorn; great-grandchildren, Savanna Pulcini, Tanner and Jaxson Hartshorn; and nephew, Rick Shank. Genevieve was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her sisters, Vina Thorpe and Madge Shank.

Memorial may be directed to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mercy Hospice, or Wesley Acres. Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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