Van De Voort, Cornelia (Willemsen) 1901-2001

VAN DE VOORT, WILLEMSEN, SPRONK

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/11/2005 at 20:51:27

PELLA - Cornelia "Kate" (Mrs. Gerrit) Van De Voort, 99, of Pella, died Friday, Aug. 24, at Griffin Nursing Center in Knoxville.

Her funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella, the Rev. Robert Schuring officiating. Burial: Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. Memorials: Griffin Nursing Center in Knoxville. Visiting hours are open today at the funeral home, with family present 6:30-8 p.m. today.

Cornelia Willemsen was born Nov. 13, 1901, in Dodewaard, province of Gelderland, the Netherlands, to Hendrik W. and Johanna Spronk Willemsen. At the age of nine she moved with her family to the United States, and they settled in the Sully area. There she received her grade school education at Dairy Grove Country Grade School west of Sully. Later they family moved to the Otley vicinity.

On June 19, 1920, Kate married Gerrit Van De Voort near Reasnor and Galesburg. They lived in the Pella area and in Pella the remainder of their married lives. Kate was a homemaker. On Oct. 9, 1976, Gerrit died. Kate continued living in Pella.

She was fond of flowers, gardening, birds, pets and her pet dog, Tippie. In her home she had many figurines, pictures, dishes and blooming flowers, and enjoyed serving refreshments to visitors. In October 2000 she moved to Griffin Nursing Center in Knoxville. She was a member of Third Reformed Church in Pella.

She is survived by four children and spouses: Everett C. and Vera Cannady Van De Voort of Plainfield, Ill., Jennie G. and Earl Van Zante of Pella, Greta W. Westra of Pella, and Henry J. and Martha Van Ekeren Vande Voort of Pella; 17 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law: Gertrude (Jeff) Willemsen and Martha (Joe) Willemsen, both of Pella; a brother-in-law, Henry Van De Voort of Grinnell; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; seven brothers and four sisters: William, John, Dirk, Henry, Jeff, Joe and Neal Willemsen, a sister Henrietta in infancy, Jennie Vander Peut, Johanna Van Zee and Henrietta Neef; a son-in-law, Frank Westra; and a great-granddaughter, Anna Marie Erickson.

The Oskaloosa Herald, August 27, 2001