Vera Mae Eilders March 21, 1928 – October 15, 2026

Vera Mae Eilders, 98, passed away of natural causes on October 15, 2026, with her family at her side at Morningstar Assisted Living Facility in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Vera was born at home on her family’s farm in Van Meter, Iowa, on March 21, 1928, to Earl Meyer and Eva Golightly. She grew up on the family farm and spent her entire life in Iowa.

Vera married Ben Eilders on June 27, 1948, in Van Meter, IA. Ben was a World War II veteran who later retired from Bankers Trust. Together, they built their life in Iowa and shared many happy years. Among their fondest memories were evenings spent dancing together at the Val Air Ballroom. In retirement, they enjoyed many winters and the warm sunshine in Palm Desert, California, where they played golf at many of the finest resorts and private clubs.

Vera was a loving wife and devoted mother, a wonderful cook, and an avid seamstress who shared her talents with family and friends. She also had a lively sense of humor and was known for singing salty tunes.

Vera was a survivor in every sense of the word. Having lived through the Great Depression, World War II, the polio epidemics, the Cold War, and countless other upheavals over her 98 years, she took considerable pride in her resilience. When it came to COVID-19, she was fond of pointing out that she had survived all those calamities and certainly didn’t need to be “vaccinated” now. It was a typically Vera expression of her independent spirit and determination to make up her own mind.

Vera was preceded in death by her husband, Ben, in 2024, and her sister, Edna. She is survived by her loving son, Brian; daughter Sheila; daughter-in-law Kathryn; and devoted nephew Dale Stonehocker, a local realtor.

A committal service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, Iowa. Arrangements are being handled by Brooks Funeral Home.

Vera will be remembered for her love of family, her many talents, her sharp wit, her independent spirit, and the unmistakable personality that carried her through 98 years of Iowa life.