Jacobsma, Alys (Mrs. Henry) 1913-2015

FEIKEMA, JACOBSMA, KORTENHOEVEN

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/29/2015 at 11:55:59

Alys Feikema Jacobsma, 101, formerly of Doon, Iowa died Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at Sanford Sheldon Senior Care in Sheldon, Iowa.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Saturday from 1:30-2:30PM at the Doon United Reformed Church of Doon, Iowa.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 2:30PM at the Doon United Reformed Church of Doon with Rev. Simon Lievaart officiating. Interment will follow the service in Hillside Cemetery of Doon.

The family prefer memorials be directed to the Doon United Reformed Church, Doon Christian School or The Bible League.

Alys Feikema Jacobsma was born July 7, 1913 in Munster, Lake County, Indiana, the youngest daughter of Andrew and Caroline (Kortenhoeven) Feikema. In 1919, at the age of 6, Alys moved to NW Iowa with her family. Alys lived in the Doon area most of her life. She attended the Doon Christian School and graduated from the 8th grade in 1927.

Much of her young adult life was spent on a farm a few miles north and east of Doon with her widowed mother and two brothers, Frank and Andrew. When a house was built in Doon in the 1950s, Alys and her mother moved into town. Alys was the primary caregiver for her aging mother until her mother died in 1961.

With her business partner, Alice Ray, Alys owned and operated the Doon Drugs and Sundries store in Doon. She was active as a member and officer in the NW Iowa organization of The World Home Bible League and also enjoyed assisting for many years with the Lyon County Election Board.

Many a summer was spent camping in Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan and Canada with siblings, nieces and nephews. Alys enjoyed crafts such as sewing, crocheting, and knitting, but also spent a good deal of time in her garden. There was a time when Alys took up wine-making and she and her nieces walked the streets of Doon gathering dandelions for the brew.

On February 5, 1963, Alys Feikema and Henry Jacobsma were married in the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne, Minnesota. Alys gave up her business and became a homemaker and part time farmer. Until Henry retired from farming his land near Boyden, Henry and Alys split their time between the farm and the house in Doon. Henry died on September 26, 1980.

Alys continued to live in her home in Doon and welcomed family and friends to what became known as ‘The Do Drop Inn’. In July of 2001, Alys moved to the extended care facility in Sheldon, Iowa.

Alys is survived by many nieces and nephews. Alys was preceded in death by her Husband; her parents; by her five brothers and their spouses, Frank (Elizabeth), Peter (Kathryn), Nick (Gertrude), Case (Martha) and Andrew (Coba), by her four sisters and their spouses, Cornelia (Ed Van Til), Kathryn (Stuart De Jong), Johanna (Walter De Jong) and Clara Feikema; a step-son, Dave Jacobsma and four of her nieces and nephews.

Alys’ extended family (nieces and nephews) thank you for your attendance and for remembering Alys all these many years as she resided at the Sheldon Senior Care facilities.

Source: Memorial Funeral Home online obituary.