Koerselman, Elaine J. (Mrs. Ben) 1940-2016

KOERSELMAN, VANGORP, KOLENBRANDER

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting (email)
Date: 7/19/2016 at 19:35:39

Mrs. Elaine Koerselman, age 76, of Hull, passed away on Wednesday, June 29, 2016, at Sioux Center Health, after a brief illness with cancer.

Elaine Jeanne Kolenbrander Koerselman was born June 21, 1940, in Ada, Michigan, the daughter of The Rev. William B. and Helene (Van Gorp) Kolenbrander.

She graduated from Northwestern College in Orange City in 1962. She taught third grade at the Maurice-Orange City Elementary School for three years, and was a teacher’s aide at the Boyden Hull Elementary School for several years. Elaine married Ben Koerselman on June 7, 1963, in Middleburg. They enjoyed 53 years of marriage on their farm in rural Hull. Together they had four children and eight grandchildren.

Mrs. Koerselman was a very active member of the Free Grace Reformed Church in Middleburg where she was currently involved in the Women’s Bible Study. She also taught Sunday School, Catechism, was a member of the guild, and helped in various areas at the church.

Elaine enjoyed gardening, sewing, decorating, and crafts. She may be remembered most for all the cards of encouragement she quietly sent through the years.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Ben; four children, Brenda Koerselman, of Gilbert, Arizona; Lynne, and her husband Jeff Dykstra, of Kansas City, Missouri; Bruce Koerselman, and his wife Tina, of Hull; and Laryl Koerselman, and his wife Emily, of Boyden; eight grandchildren, Joel, Mark, Justin, and Megan Dykstra; Brooke, Brialle, and Tyler Koerselman; and Brynn Koerselman; two sisters, Marilyn Vander Kooi, and Carole, and her husband Paul Aykens, all of Orange City; a brother, Dr. Ron Kolenbrander, of Radford, Virginia; a sister-in-law, Muriel, and her husband Paul De Groot, of Omaha, Nebraska; a brother-in-law, Richard Koerselman, and his wife Faye, of Gilbert, Arizona; and many nephews and nieces.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by infant twin sisters, Donna and Dorothy; her parents-in-law, Gerrit B. and Sophia (Vander Wilt) Koerselman; a sister-in-law, Judy, and her husband John Visser; and a brother-in-law, Paul Vander Kooi.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Northwestern College in Orange City and the Luke Society in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Visitation will be after 5:00pm on Saturday, July 2, with the family present from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Hull. Interment will be prior to the service at the Capel Township Cemetery near Middleburg. There will be a prayer service on Sunday, July 3, at 1:00pm, at the funeral home, with a memorial service at 2:00pm, at the Middleburg Free Grace Reformed Church. The Revs. Stephen Breen and Richard Koerselman will officiate.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.