SIOUX CITY -- Sylvia Ann Huisenga, 58, of Manassas, Va., formerly of Sioux City, died Aug. 4, 2010, at Falls Church, Va. following a sudden heart attack and heart disease.
Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Tony Nester of Grace United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online to christysmith.com.
Sylvia was born July 25, 1952, in Nuremburg, Germany, the daughter of Alvin E. and Gertrude A. (Dietz) Michaelsen. Her father was in the military and she lived in a number of cities around the world. The family came to Sioux City in 1969. She graduated from East High School in 1970. She received her associate degree from NVCC.
She married James Alan Huisenga on Dec. 12, 1970, in Sioux City.
She was of the Methodist faith. She was a leader, a mentor, a provider and above all, a mother to all. She will be greatly missed and will always be loved. The last year of her life was spent with her seven grandchildren, who loved her more than anything.
Survivors include her husband, James A. Huisenga; her daughter and her husband, Jaime and Adrian Zahand; two sons and their wives, Charles and Rachel Huisenga and Nicolas and Shallin Huisenga; her father, Alvin E. Michaelsen; her brother and his wife, Mark and Barbara Michaelsen; her sister and her husband, EvaMaria and Kenneth Secoske; and seven grandchildren, Derrick and Tyller Zahand, Paul, Tyson, Julian, Trent and Chase Huisenga.
She was preceded in death by her mother; and her son, James Michael Huisenga.
Pallbearers will be Charlie Huisenga, Nick Huisenga, Jaime Zahand, Jon Michaelsen, Matt and Ben Secoske.
Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association for the 2010 start of the Richmond Heart Walk in October. Memorials may be made by going to http:/heartwalk.kintera.org/richmond/teamsyl58.