Boersma, Edna (Mrs. Herman M.) 1916-2009

BOERSMA, VANDERSCHAAF, RIKKERS

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg (email)
Date: 7/24/2014 at 09:46:14

Born: February 15, 1916 Rural Sioux Center, Iowa
Died: January 12, 2009 Newton, Iowa

Edna Boersma, 92, Newton, formerly of Hospers and Sheldon, died Monday Jan. 12, 2009 at the Monarch Wing of Hospice at Skiff Medcal Center in Newton.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Hospers, with the Rev. Dr. Brian Janssen officiating. Burial will be in the Hospers Cemetery under the direction of Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.

Edna Boersma, daughter of Edward and Nellie (Rikkers) Vander Schaaf, was born Feb. 15, 1916 on a farm near Sioux Center. At the age of 12, she moved with her family to a farm north of Orange City. She graduated from Northwestern Academy and Jr. College in Orange City after which she completed her education at Westmar College in Le Mars. She taught school and was involved iin church activities. She married Herman "Hoppy" M. Boersma on Nov. 28, 1941, at First Reformed Church in Orange City. They moved to a farm northwest of Sheldon, where they lived and farmed until they retired to Hospers in 1978. After the death of Mr. Boersma in 1997, she moved to the Christian Retirement Home in Sheldon, where she lived for eight years. She moved to Newton Village Assisted Living in Newton to be near her children in her declining years.

She was a member of Matlock Reformed Church before its retirement. She was a member of the ladies Guild, in which she served as an officer on the local and classical levels in various capacities. She also served on the Northwestern College Rotary Loan Board for several years. She was an avid reader. She started and built up a 2,000 book library, half of which were adult books and half youth and children's books, at Matlock Reformed Church. She proofread every book before placing them in the library.

She loved entertaining, especially missionaries and guest pastors who came to fill their pulpit. As a pastime, she enjoyed knitting and crocheting. She knitted bed socks for all her relatives and also for all her friends while in the Christian Retirement Home. She also knitted or crocheted many afghans for relatives and baby blankets to give to those who could usse them.

Survivors include two daughters, Virginia and Les Baskerville of Newton, and Kathy and Gary Bruxvoort of Marion; five grandchildren; two brothers, the Rev. Henry Vander Schaaf of Holland MI, and John and Gertie Vander Schaaf of Orange City.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman M. Boersma; three sisters, Mrs. Antonia (Richard) Burggraaff, Mrs. Gertrude (Robert) Remmerde, and Mrs. Nelvina (Barney) Aldis; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Myra (Henry) Vander Schaaf; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials are being directed to various loving interests of Edna's including the church and other groups.

Source; Northwest Iowa Review after Jan. 12, 2009