OKONES, Matilda 1908-1997

OKONES, HAAN, SIETSEMA

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/11/2011 at 10:45:26

Matilda Okones, 88, of Wellsburg, passed away on Tuesday, January 21, at the Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo of natural causes.

Funeral services were held on Friday, January 24, at 10:30 a.m. at the Wellsburg Reformed Church with burial following in the church cemetery. Pastor Gary Hegstad officiated.

Pallbearers were Allan Ruter, Lance Okones, Dr. Jeff Okones, Michael Kelly, Brian Kucera and Allen Jaspers.

Honorary pallbearers were Teresa Kelly, Lyndamyrth Stokes, Jacalyn Jaspers and Susan Kucera.

A memorial fund has been established.

Matilda was born on December 4, 1908, the daughter of George and Gertie (Haan) Sietsema on the family farm in Pleasant Valley Township, Grundy County. She attended school and graduated from Pleasant Valley #9. On September 25, 1928, she was united in marriage with Neil Okones at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They owned and operated Okones Implement Company in Wellsburg for 36 years, retiring in 1972. Her family was the center of her life.

She was a member of the Wellsburg Reformed Church and long time member of the Ladies Aid.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Neil, Sr.; her parents; 3 brothers, John, Harvey and Edward; 1 sister, Jennie Fisher; and 1 granddaughter, Laurie Glenn Wallace.

Survivors include her daughter, Thelma Ruter and husband Eugene of Wellsburg; 2 sons, Lee and wife Glenda of Cedar Rapids and Neil and wife Janice of Wellsburg; 2 brothers, George Sietsema and wife Frances and Herman Sietsema and wife Yvonne, all of Wellsburg; one sister, Esther Mennenga of Ackley; two sisters-in-law, Beulah Sietsema and Matilda Engelkes, both of Wellsburg; 7 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The Doyen-Abels Funeral Home in Wellsbdurg was in charge of the arrangements.