Vander Plaats, JoAnn (Mrs. Ronald Dean) 1949-2023

VANDERPLAATS, TEBRINK, JACOBSMA

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/29/2023 at 12:55:59

Mrs. JoAnn Vander Plaats, age 73, of Alton, passed away on Monday, March 13, 2023, at the Orange City Area Health System.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Thursday, March 16, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City. There will be a funeral service on Friday, March 17, at 10:30am, at the funeral home with the Rev. Scott Bonestroo officiating. Interment will follow the service at the Nassau Township Cemetery near Alton.

JoAnn Marie was born on July 26, 1949, in Sheldon, one of six daughters born to Aben and Dorothy (Te Brink) Jacobsma. She was raised in Sanborn and Orange City, where she graduated from the Unity Christian High School.

On February 10, 1967, she was united in marriage to Ronald Dean Vander Plaats in Orange City. For the first few years of their marriage, “Jo” lived with family as “Ron” served in the United States Army. Upon his honorable discharge, they made their home near Sanborn. The couple then moved to Orange City and had settled in Alton for the last forty years.

Jo enjoyed working as a cook in numerous area businesses over the years, including Northwest Iowa Community College and Children’s World, both in Sheldon, and the Happy Siesta Care Center in Remsen. In her free time, she loved decorating her home and spending time in her large flower garden.

Survivors include her husband of more than 56 years, Ron, of Alton; her three sisters, Darlene, and her husband, Marlo Fedders; Arlene Gesink; and Janice, and her husband, Donny Wielenga, all of Orange City; Ron’s brother and his wife, Larry and Wendy Vander Plaats, of Hospers; his sister-in-law, Nelva Vander Plaats, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; his brother-in-law, Roger Oertel, of Junction City, Kansas; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Valarie Jacobsma, in infancy; and Helen, and her husband, Rodney Vanden Brink; a brother-in-law, John B. Gesink; Ron’s parents; his brother, Richard Vander Plaats; and his sister, Janice Oertel.

Memorials will be given to the American Diabetes Association.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.