On February 10, 2023, Sylvia Menninga died peacefully in her sleep at home after suffering from Parkinson’s disease over the past three years. Sylvia was a tutor and go-to librarian on Tuesday evenings for Learning Edge (formerly Cluster Tutoring) for over 10 years. She was passionate about helping students and tutors find books, games, and other resources.
The following is from her obituary, which can be found here as well.
Sylvia was born in 1934 on a farm in Iowa, as the eighth of ten children. She married her high school sweetheart and life partner Gysbert (Gy) Menninga in 1955. She attended nursing school at Blodgett Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They started their family in El Paso, Texas, where Gy served in the US Army. After living in Michigan and New Jersey, they settled in Highland Park, Illinois to raise their four children.
A registered nurse, she was a well-loved manager and supervisor at Home Health Care North (Chicago), director of nursing at Abbott House (Highland Park) as well as The Grove School (Lake Forest). She was an active member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, where she helped run the Erie Summer Project, sang in the choir, and taught Sunday school.
Sylvia and Gy retired together in Oak Park, Illinois, to be near and help raise grandchildren. She immediately became a volunteer in her community and a busy member of First United Church of Oak Park. She was a tutor and librarian (Cluster Tutoring, now Learning Edge), co-coordinated the Crop Hunger Walk for many years, co-founded and co-facilitated the Oak Park chapter of PFLAG, was active at the Oak Park YMCA, played piano for the seniors at Mills Park Tower, and could be seen selling homemade bread at the farmers market to raise money for one of her causes, among many other activities.
Sylvia was a strong social advocate for progressive causes including prison reform, housing, hunger, racial and gender equity, and LGBTQ rights. She and Gy were recognized for their community service with the Ulyssean award from the Senior Citizens’ Center of OPRF, and the Bruce Scott “Courage and Justice” award recognizing LGBTQ activism.
She was a music lover, playing both piano and organ, and her lovely soprano was a joy to hear. Sylvia was also a prolific baker, enjoyed gardening and birdwatching, and traveled the world.
Sylvia is survived by her husband Gy; children: Beth (Chris Leroux), Bert (Francisco Ballesteros), Nick (Nancy Fong) and Charles; grandchildren: Alizarin, Thalo and Haskell Menninga; Isabelle (Mauss Jones) Leroux-Jones; and Owen Boone. She is also survived by her brothers Bruce (Joyce) Nikkel and Nelson (Norma) Nikkel, lifelong friend Jan (Jim) Monsma, as well as many nieces and nephews and in-laws and dear friends.
She has been an inspiration to many, and has made the world a better, brighter, and more caring place.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at First United Church of Oak Park, 848 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301.