Balkema, Ella Jacoba, 1898-1989

BALKEMA, DEHAAN, OOLMAN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/20/2010 at 19:54:40

Mrs. Ella J. Balkema, age 90, of Orange City, passed away Saturday, March 18, at the Orange City Municipal Hospital.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 22, at the American Reformed Church, with the Revs. Martin Vander Wilt and Henry Elgersma officiating. Interment followed at West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City, under the direction of the Van Etten-Oolman-VanGelder Funeral Home of Orange City.

Ella Jacoba was born April 12, 1898, on a farm west of Orange City, the daughter of Alt Bert De Haan and Hermina Oolman De Haan. On December 25, 1923, she married Clarence Edward "Pat" Balkema at Sioux Center. They made their home in Orange City. After their children had been raised, Mrs. Balkema was a cook at the Orange City Public School for a few years. Mr. Balkema passed away March 21, 1978, at Orange City.

Since January of 1986, she has made her home with her daughter.

She was a member of the American Reformed Church of Orange City, where she had been active in the Ladies Guild and had served as a Sunday School teacher. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and a former member of Ladies Zangkoor.

In earlier years, Mr. and Mrs. Balkema were involved in the work of the Sioux City Gospel Mission. Family and friends will remember most her gift of "Helps."

Survivors include her daughter, Evadene Klinghagen, of Orange City; son, Albert C. Balkema, and his wife Mary Jean, of Montgomery, Alabama; eight grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Simon Klinghagen; five brothers, Henry, Jake, Herman, and Vernon De Haan and a brother in infancy; and three sisters, Gertrude Heemstra, Florence Mouw and June De Wolf.

Source: Siouxland Press (Orange City), March 29, 1989. Also in Sioux County Capital, March 23, 1989.