De Groot, Renzella "Sally" Mae (Mrs. John L) 1925-2020

DEGROOT, KREYKES, WOUDSTRA

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

Mrs. Sally De Groot, age 94, of Hull, passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2020, at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley.

There will be a memorial service on Wednesday, July 1, at 11:00am, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Hull. The Rev. Loren Kotman and the Rev. Carl Klompien will officiate. A private family interment will be prior to the service at the Hope Cemetery in Hull. Visitation without the family will be on Tuesday, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Hull.

In light of current events, and in an effort to abide by the recommendation of social distancing, we encourage you to use our website, www.oolman.com, to leave a message of condolence, print a memorial folder, and participate in the funeral service via live stream.

Renzella “Sally” Mae, was born on July 21, 1925, in Orange City, the oldest of six children born to James and Hattie (Kreykes) Woudstra. She was raised in Orange City and was very close to her father, Jim, and worked by his side at the Woudstra Meat Market from an early age. She earned her high school diploma via the mail through Western Christian High School in Hull, while working full time at the meat market.

On a fateful Sunday in 1945, while wearing her yellow dress, she met a returning service man, John L. De Groot, in full dress uniform, at church. John and Sally were married on June 18, 1946, in Orange City. The couple moved to Michigan, where John finished his degree at Calvin College and Sally tended to their children, Helen, born in 1947, and Larry, born in 1948.

In 1949, the family moved to Edgerton, Minnesota, and remained there for the seventeen years, where John was the Christian School principal and Sally was a homemaker and worked in the school library. After their children graduated and enrolled at Dordt College in Sioux Center, John and Sally also moved to Sioux Center where John worked at Dordt and Sally was active in various church groups. In 1970, they moved to Hull, where Sally remained for the majority of her life. John passed away on June 1, 2002, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Sally was an active member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Hull, participating in Bible Study, Coffee Break, and filling many volunteer positions. She was an avid reader for her entire life, but more than anything, she enjoyed spending time with her friends and family. She never missed a grandchild’s activity, and always made sure to have cookies in the freezer or lunch on the table in case someone stopped by. Later in life, when baking was no longer an option, she made sure she caught up with family and friends over the phone. She also sent countless birthday cards to almost everyone she knew.

No matter what the conversation was, she always had a caring heart and made it known that she was praying for you. Sally passed away on June 28, 2020, at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley, at the age of 94 years, 11 months, and 7 days. Her love and presence will be deeply missed by her family and the many people whom she touched and prayed for.

Survivors include her daughter, Helen, and her husband, Gervin Bonnema, of Orange City; and their children, Sara, and her husband, Harlan Burggraaf (Jacey, Emmy); Gina, and her husband, Joe Poppema (Ella Mae, Tyler, Taya); Lisa, and her husband, AJ Smit (Tegegn, Asaiah, Shotay, Kale, Rylee, Brandon, Jamison); and Dan Bonnema, and his wife, Sarah (Lily, Autumn, Allison, Haddie); her son, Larry De Groot, of Sioux Falls; and his children, Jonathan De Groot, and his wife, Misty (Max, Izzy, Lyncoln); Jason De Groot, and his wife, Abby (Harper, Reese, Jase); and Joanna, and her husband, Adam Nikodym (Henry); a brother, Al Woudstra, of Orange City; three sisters, Marilyn Kroeze, of Orange City; Sylvia Veltkamp, of Inwood; and Joyce Vande Griend, of Hull; three sisters-in-law, Vernell Kuiper, of Orange City; Helen De Groot, of Arkansas; and Marjean De Groot, of Washington State; a brother-in-law, Dick Van Gelder, of Creston, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by John’s parents, Leonard and Jeanette De Groot; a daughter-in-law, Helen (Slegers) De Groot; two grandchildren, Rebecca Bonnema and Michael De Groot; a brother, LeRoy Woudstra; a sister-in-law, June Woudstra; five brothers-in-law, Gary Kroeze, Dick Veltkamp, Pete Vander Tuig, Harold Kuiper, and Bernie Vande Griend; and her husband’s siblings, Bill De Groot; Harold De Groot; Clarence De Groot, and his wife, Jeanette; Theresa, and her husband, Tony Kuiper; and Clarena Van Gelder.

Memorials may be directed to the Christian School of your choice.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.