De Jong, Mabel Kathryn (Hiemstra)

DE JONG, HIEMSTRA, VISSER

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/18/2005 at 19:52:22

Funeral services for Mabel Kathryn De Jong, 89 of Pella, who passed away Sept. 9, were held Saturday, Sept. 13, at the First Reformed Church in Pella. The Rev. Ray Tilstra officiated with Nora De Reus for pianist.

Interment was held at the Oakwood Cemetery. Casket Bearers were Tim De Jong, Tony De Jong, Terry De Jong, Leonard Gosselink, Bob Lanser, and Bill Nagy.

Mabel, the daughter of John F. and Maggie (Visser) Hiemstra, was born March 24, 1914 on her parents' farm near Otley. She graduated from Pella High School in 1913 and continued her education at William Penn College and Drake University. For over thirty years, Mabel taught school in the Mahaska School District.

On October 12, 1936, Mabel was united in marriage with Clifford Gysbert De Jong at her parents' home in Pella. In 1988, Mabel and Cliff retired and moved to Pella where they became active members of the First Reformed Church in Pella. Cliff passed away on June 21, 1995 For six years, Mabel resided at the Sheltered Care Unit of the Pella Regional Health Center.

Mabel is survived by her sons and their wives: L. Fred and Barbara De Jong of Southside, Ala. and Cliff and Joan De Jong of Colorado Springs, Colo.; nine grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; and two sisters: Nellie Westerkamp and Leona TerLouw both of Pella.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John F. and Maggie Hiemstra; her husband, Clifford De Jong; a daughter, M. Jan Nagy; two grandchildren: William Jeffrey Nagy and Julie Ann De Jong; five sisters: Tillie Poortinga, Emma Buwalda, Cornelia Vriezelaar,Mary Gosselink, and Margaret Vogelaar; and three brothers: Martin, John, and Frank Hiemstra.

The Pella Chronicle, September 19, 2003