Jellema, SSGT Thomas "Tom" 1924-2017

JELLEMA, DEJONG, PENNINGTON

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke--Volunteer
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:33

Source: Heritage Funeral Home

Birth: October 28, 1924
Death: February 6, 2017

Thomas Jellema of Sioux Falls passed Monday, February 6, 2017 at the Sioux Falls Regional Veterans Administration. The funeral will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 13, 2017 at Heritage Funeral Home. The family will greet friends at Heritage Funeral Home on Sunday, February 12 from 3:00-5:00pm.

Tom was born in Chicago, Illinois to John and Agnes (De Jong) Jellema, one of ten children. He moved to Orange City, Iowa as a young child where he was raised and schooled. He enlisted in the Army in May, 1943 and attended Signa Corp Photographic Center in New York. He served in France and Germany in WWII as a combat photographer and was in the 7th Army where he photographed the Nazi Dachau Concentration Camp reopening, among others. He also served in the War Crimes Investigation Team # 6826 at the end of WWII. He resettled in Orange City, Iowa where he married Sue DeJong, in 1947, his wife for 54 years. They moved to Fort Worth, Texas where he went to Fort Worth School of Photography and was then recalled into the Korean War. After the war he secured a photographers position with the Sioux Falls Argus Leader for 15 years. He owned Jellema Photography until 1979 and then joined the EROS Data Center as a Landsat Satellite as chief photo inspector until retiring in 1989.

Tom was an active member of the First Reformed Church and loved God dearly. Tom also loved to play his guitar and harmonica and was a past member of the South Dakota Old Time Fiddlers. Tom was also a past President of the South Dakota Professional Photographers Association. He spent most winters in Arizona until 2002 when Sue passed away. In 2003 he married Joan Pennington of Sioux Falls and then settled year round in Arizona until returning to Sioux Falls in October 2016. Joan recently passed away in January, 2017 after a stroke.

Tom is survived by his children Judith (Stephen ) Kerkvliet of McKinney, Texas; Jolene (Brian) Howard of Carlisle, Pennesylania; Thomas Jellema Jr. of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Janet (Joel) Steffen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 7 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, one brother Don (Louella) Jellema, Brandon, SD and many nieces and nephews.

He also has 4 step-children, Michael (Patricia) Pennington of Prior Lake, Minnesota, Daniel (Johnell) Pennington of Bennington, Nebraska, Thomas Pennington of Tampa, Florida, Jeanie (Joel) Driscoll of Versailles, Missouri, 10 step- grandchildren, 12 step great-grandchildren, and one step-great- great grandchild.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his wives, Sue Jellema and Joan Jellema and siblings Etta DeHaan, Marie Kaschmitter, Onno Jellema, Orion Jellema, Delores Jacomet, John Jellema, Agnes jellema and Tokey Becker.