Jellema, Bruce John 1948-2023

JELLEMA, ROERIG, LENZ

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-volunteer (email)
Date: 11/8/2023 at 13:50:03

Mr. Bruce Jellema, age 74, of Alton, passed away on Friday, October 27, 2023, at his home.

A visitation will be held after 4:00pm on Thursday, November 2, with the family present from 5:00pm to 7:00pm,

at the Faith Lutheran Church in Orange City. There will be a funeral service on Friday, November 3, at 10:30am,

at the church with the Rev. Thomas Batchelder officiating. The Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City is in charge

of arrangements.

Bruce John was born on November 5, 1948, in Orange City, one of ten children born to Onno and Ruth (Roerig)

Jellema. When he was a child, his family moved to Alton, where Bruce graduated from the Floyd Valley High

School. After graduation, Bruce began working in the construction and concrete business.

He was united in marriage to Martha “Marcie” Lenz on October 21, 1978, in Paullina. Together they made their

home in Alton, where they raised their four daughters. In the early 1980’s, Bruce started Jellema Construction in

Alton, overseeing countless construction and concrete projects in the area.

Bruce enjoyed being active within the community. In earlier years, he coached the Alton swim and dive team and

the Spalding girl’s junior high basketball team and officiated at countless area baseball and basketball games. Once

his daughters, and later his grandchildren, started participating in their own sporting events, Bruce found joy in

attending their games, where he loved cheering them on. Whether it was as a coach, a referee, or sitting in the

stands, Bruce was always making people laugh and he developed many strong friendships over the years.

Beyond his family and work, Bruce had many interests and hobbies, including diving (which he was very good at),

going hunting and fishing, playing golf and card games, and sometimes just sitting around the shop socializing

with his friends and coworkers. He liked seeing others happy, and always had a story or joke, and sometimes a

costume, ready to make someone else smile. His fun and loving energy drew people of all ages to him, and his

desire to help others, give second chances, show compassion, and offer forgiveness, made a positive impact on

many people.

He was baptized at the Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina and was a long-time member of the Faith Lutheran

Church in Orange City. He found guidance through Jesus Christ, and although his family and friends wish he was

still here with them, they are excited to know he has been given eternal life with his Lord and Savior.

Bruce will be deeply missed by his wife of 45 years, Marcie, of Alton; four daughters, Aimee Jellema, of Sioux City;

Angela, and her husband, Brian Kilbride, of Orange City; Brooke, and her husband, Steve Oman, of Littleton,

Colorado; and Abby, and her husband, DJ Hansen, of Paullina; eleven grandchildren, Timothy and Hannah;

Brady, Maddie, Chloe, and Ethan; Keira and Ryker; and Jackson, Stella, and Jude; seven siblings, Virginia, and

her husband, Don Konz, of Remsen; Gary Jellema, and his wife, Deb; and Mary, and her husband, Tom

Grosenheider, all of Texas; Nancy, and her husband, Leo Schwebach, of Alton; Tim Jellema, and his wife, Theresa,

of Le Mars; Lisa Jellema, of Alton; and Danny Jellema, of Florida; two brothers-in-law, Woodward Wampler, of

Arizona; and Marion Vander Zwaag, of Alton; and his wife’s siblings, David Lenz, and his wife, Tiny, of Wisconsin;

Phyllis Reimer, of Cresent; Tom Lenz, and his wife, Carol, of Missouri; John Lenz, of Illinois; Mary Ann, and her

husband, Gary Meyer, of Paullina; Dan Lenz, and his wife, Marian, of Forest City; and Laura Lenz, of Alton; along

with numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and parent’s in-law, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Carol Vander Zwaag and

Jean Wampler; two brothers in-law, Larry Lenz and Rod Reimer; and two sisters-in-law, Karen Lenz and Jan Lenz.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.