Aalberts, Auriel M. (Mrs. Rev. Gradus) 1914-2008

AALBERTS, BAKKER, KNAPP

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-volunteer
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:32

Source: Sioux Land Press (6-18-2008)

Born: December 20, 1914
Died: June 8, 2008

Auriel M. Aalberts, 93, of Orange City passed away Sunday, June 8, 2008, at Casa de la Luz Inpatient Hospice in Tucson, Arizona.

Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at First Reformed Church in Orange City. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church. Another funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday at Winnebago Reformed Church in Winnebago, Nebraska. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Thursday at the church in Winnebago. The Reverends Perry De Groot, David Ter Beest and Herman Van Galen will officiate. Burial will be in Winnebago Tribal Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City and Winnebago Wake and Burial Program Condolences may be sent online to www.oolman.com.

Auriel Mae was born December 20, 1914, in West Olive, Michigan, the daughter of Herman and Alice (Knapp) Bakker. She was raised in West Olive.

On June 8, 1939, she married the Reverend Gradus C. Aalberts at Harlem Reformed Church in West Olive. They served the First Reformed Church in Ireton, Iowa, and the Winnebago Reformed Church. They then moved to Minneapolis, where her husband was executive director of the United Church Committee on Indian Work in the Twin Cities. Later, they returned to Winnebago. Gradus passed away April 23, 1970, in Omaha. She then served as housemother at the Annville Institute in Annville, Kentucky, and later as head matron at the Holland Home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She then retired to Annville and in 1990, moved to Orange City.

She was currently a member of First Reformed Church in Orange City, where she belonged to the Blocks and Knots Quilters. She volunteered at the Hands Around the World Store and the Orange City Public Library. She enjoyed playing piano, cooking, sewing, embroidering, quilting, reading, walking and playing board games.

Survivors include her four daughters, Nola Aalberts of Orange City, Marlene and her husband, Dale Kleinjan of Taylorsville, Kentucky, Jan Aalberts of Tucson, Arizona, and Karen and her husband, Steve Booth of Wasilla, Alaska; a son and his wife, Carl and Wendy Aalberts of Fombell, Pennsylvania; nine grandchildren, Todd, Keith, Lisa, Cory, Micah, Josiah, Aaron, Ricki and Geoffrey; a great-grandson, Isaac; and two sisters-in-law, Esther Bakker and Alice Bakker, both of Holland, Michigan.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by a grandson, Jacob; four brothers, Maynard, James, Marvin and Harold Bakker; three sisters-in-law, Minnie Aalberts, Kate Muyskens and Hattie Bakker; and a brother-in-law, Dick Muyskens.

Memorials may be directed to the Winnebago Reformed Church and the Reverend Gradus and Auriel Aalberts Memorial Fund, P.O. Box D, Winnebago, Nebraska. 68071.