Houtsma, Jennie (Mrs. Cornelius "Neal") 1897-1968

HOUTSMA, JACOBSMA

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke--Volunteer
Date: 6/30/2017 at 00:07:24

Source: Rock Valley Bee (1-18-1968)

Born: January 17, 1897
Died: 1968

Funeral services for Mrs. Cornelius, nee Jennie Jacobsma, Houtsma were held Tuesday, January 9, at the Sheldon First Reformed Church, 1:00 P.M. in the church parlors for family service and 1:30 P.M. in the church with Reverend Harris Verkaile officiating, under the direction of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home of Sheldon with burial at Westside Cemetery at Hospers. Mrs. Scott Sneller of Boyden sang “Safe In the Arms of Jesus,” and “Someday He’ll Make it Plain to Me.” Pallbearers were John Jacobsma, Searle Jacobsma, Scott Sneller, Henry Prins, John Mulder, and Jake Elbers.

Mrs. Houtsma, daughter of the late Fredricka and Syje Jacobsma was born January 17, 1897 at Sioux Center, Iowa. Later the family moved to the Hospers area where she received her schooling in rural schools near Hospers. She grew to womanhood and on February 5, 1917, she was united in marriage to Neal (Cornelius) Houtsma. To this union, three sons and three daughters were born: Mrs. Raymond Smit of Boyden, Henry Houtsma of Redlands, California, Cycil Houtsma of Sheldon, James Houtsma of Sheldon, Mrs. Nick Hulst of Paulina, and Mrs. Dale Merrill of Sheldon. They farmed all their married life in the Boyden and Hospers area until they retired and moved to Sheldon. Mrs. Houtsma made her home the past year at the Sheldon Christian Retirement Home. She became ill this fall and was under doctors care and entered the Sheldon Hospital where she passed away at the age of 70 years, 11 months and 20 days.

She survives her children who all were near at the time of her passing and also leaves 15 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Andrew Vander Berg of Hospers, Mrs. Bernard Voss; three brothers, Henton of Hospers, Henry of Doon and Clarence of Los Angeles, California, besides a host of relatives.

She was preceded in death by her husband on January 25, 1959, one child in infancy and one grandson.

Mrs. Houtsma was a faithful member of the First Reformed Church and the Circle of the Church in Sheldon.