Bosma, Marcella (Mrs. Jerry) 1953-2009

BOSMA, CLEVERING, VANDENBOSCH

Posted By: Janet Bosler - Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/12/2013 at 22:55:43

Sheldon Mail Sun April 8, 2009

Born: 9-26-1953
Died: 3-29-2009

Marcella "Cella" Faye Bosma, 55, Sanborn, died Sunday, March 29.

Funeral services will begin at: 2:00 p.m. on Thursday; April 2, 2009 at the Christian Reformed Church in Sanborn, Iowa with Pastors: Dale Fopma, Michael Ribbens and Greg Dyk officiating. Interment will be at the Roseland Cemetery in Sanborn, Iowa.

Marcella Faye (Cleveringa) Bosma was born on Saturday; September 26, 1953 in Canton; Lincoln County, South Dakota. She was the daughter of: Roger and Esther (Vanden Bosch) Cleveringa. Cella's delight in learning started while growing up on a farm near Rock Valley; Sioux County, Iowa. For her elementary and secondary education, she attended Rock Valley Christian, Inwood Christian, and Hull Western Christian. Cella went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Dordt College in 1993.

She had been working toward her Doctorate of Education at the University of South Dakota.

Cella married her high school sweetheart and life-long storyteller, Jerry Lee Bosma on Sunday; December 30, 1973 at the First CRC in Rock Valley, Iowa. As a couple, they lived in Utah for two years and then resided in Sanborn; O'Brien County, Iowa for the rest of their marriage. She was an active member of Sanborn CRC, determined to be a faithful nurturer for Christ's community. Together, Jerry and Cella led Sunday School, Young Adult Bible Studies, and service-learning groups to Cary, Miss.

Her delight for learning flowed into practical, Biblical teaching. As a classroom teacher, she taught at Sanborn Christian for eleven years and Sheldon Christian for seven. Cella was an Education Professor at Dordt College since 2000. In 2007, she received the alumni-selected John Calvin Award for excellence in teaching. She also was a leader in the Northwest Iowa Reading Council, Association for Supervision of Curriculum Development and Heartland Christian Teachers Convention.

Cella loved life. She lived it full and fast, from her teaching to the very way she walked and talked. Her enthusiasm for living could be seen as she worked her garden, read to her grandchildren, made music, promoted education and traveled throughout the world. This enthusiasm spilled into the lives of her family, friends, peers, colleagues, and students.

Survivors include her husband of 35 years: Jerry Bosma; her son: Joshua Bosma of Sanborn, Iowa; her two daughters: Megan and Michael Ribbens of Abuja, Nigeria, Mindy and Souvanna Baccam of Hull; Sioux County, Iowa; her six grandchildren: Kobi, Bailey and Miles Baccam, Amira, Nico and "Baby" Ribbens; her parents: Roger and Esther Cleveringa; her siblings Norm (LaDonna) Cleveringa, Marcia (Lee) Rozeboom.

She was preceded in death by her parents-in-law, Harry and Estelle (Krikke) Bosma.