Jansen, Esther (Wichhart) 1917-2006

JANSEN, WICHHART, VAN WAARDHUIZEN, VOS

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/23/2006 at 18:45:42

Esther Wichhart was born May 5, 1917, at Pella. She was the ninth of ten children that were born to the late William and Nellie Vos Wichhart. Esther attended country grade school near Pella. On Sept. 11, 1937, she married Milton Arie Van Waardhuizen of Eddyville. They were married in Missouri and had four children: John William, Loretta Nell, Karen Diane and Charles Wayne. Esther and Milton lived all their married lives in Pella.

Milt had been an employee of the Pella Municipal Light Plant for 30 years while Esther took care of her aged mother until she passed away. This experience led Esther to continue a nursing career. She was employed at Fair Haven West until becoming a nurse's aide at the Pella Community Nursing Home. She also worked as a ward clerk at the Pella Community Hospital for 10 years. On Nov. 16, 1972, her husband Milton passed away at the age of 63.

Following his death, Esther moved to an apartment and met her neighbor across the street, Jake Jansen, who had also lost his spouse and they became closer friends mutually sharing their grief and growing together in friendship.

On June 14, 1975, they married at the home of Esther's son, John Van Waardhuizen, in Pella. Esther's family and Jake's six children: Joyce Gerlene, Roger Laverne, Edwin Eugene, Duane Allen, Beverly Jean and Bryce Dean, became a blended family. Esther and Jake moved to the Pella Manor in 1987 where they resided for nearly 17 years. During this time Esther took the Hospice course and subsequently had a few clients. But then her health needs required more assistance than Jake could provide and she moved to the longterm care unit of the Pella Regional Health Center in 2001. Jake visited her there daily and faithfully provided loving care and devotion to her during this time.

In November 2004, Jake became a resident at Hilltop Manor North and resided there until he passed away April 5, 2005, at the age of 87. Esther was cared for in the longterm care unit until being moved to the Hospice of Pella Comfort House on Nov. 18, 2005. She was cared for there the remainder of her lifetime where she died May 10, five days following her 89th birthday.

Those who will cherish her memory are three children and their spouses, a daughter-in-law, nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; step-children, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

Of her original family Esther leaves just one brother, Marion Wichhart of Pella.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Milton Van Waardhuizen and Jake Jansen; her son, John W. Van Waardhuizen; two granddaughters: Michelle Lee Van Waardhuizen and Leslie Denise Jabaai; a step-son-in-law, Larry Kooistra; a step-daughter -in-law, Karen (Duane) Jansen; and an infant step-great-granddaughter, Kristen Marie Kooistra. In addition to her parents, William and Nellie Wichhart, Esther was preceded in death by the following sisters and brothers and their spouses: Elizabeth and Dingeman Verros, Marie and Ed Keuning, Nellie and Peter Boerfijn, Wilma and Wm. Van Hal, Chris and Henrietta Wichhart, Adam and Jeanette Wichhart, Charles and Connie Wichhart and Catherine (Marion) Wichhart.

Esther had been a former member of the First Christian Reformed Church and for many years was a faithful member of the Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella where she had been active in the Priscilla Society. She enjoyed playing the piano and singing.

Funeral services were held May 13 at Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella with Pastor Larry Peterson officiating.

Internment was in Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. For those desiring, memorials may be designated for the Pella Christian High School Endowment Fund or the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella.

The Knoxville Journal Express, June 9, 2006