Thelma Joanne (Verhoef) EEKHOFF

EEKHOFF, VERHOEF, POST, DATTOLI, VAN DE STOUWE, MILLER, HUBERS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/28/2009 at 12:05:20

KANAWHA - Thelma J. Eekhoff, 75, of Kanawha, died Saturday (March 14, 2009) at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt. Funeral services for Thelma J. Eekhoff will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church, Kanawha, with Pastor Steve Schultz officiating. Burial will take place in Amsterdam Township Cemetery, Kanawha. Visitation for Thelma Eekhoff will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today, March 16, 2009, at Ewing Funeral Home, 118 East Second Street, in Kanawha and will continue one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Ewing Funeral Home, Kanawha.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
March 16, 2009
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Thelma J. Eekhoff, passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital, Britt. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 17, at the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church, with Pastor Steve Schultz and Rev. Marvin Van Donselaar officiating. Burial took place in the Amsterdam Township Cemetery, Kanawha.

Thelma Joanne Verhoef, the oldest child of Cornelius and Cornelia (Post) Verhoef, was born on July 5, 1933 in Ocheyedan, Iowa. She was raised on farms, first near Ocheyedan and then near Sanborn. Thelma attended the Sanborn Christian Grade School, Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa and Westmar College in LeMars. She became a professing member of the Sanborn Christian Reformed Church in 1951. Thelma was an elementary teacher at the Ocheyedan Christian School, Oskaloosa Christian School and the Kanawha Christian School. In 1958, she met John Eekhoff and they were married on June 9, 1961. John and Thelma made their home on a farm near Kanawha where she enjoyed raising her family, gardening, keeping the books and helping with the busy planting and harvest seasons. Later she enjoyed selling produce at farmer's markets. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was a faithful member of the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church and took an active role in its activities. The Kanawha Christian School had a special place in her heart. She taught, substituted, sent her children and volunteered there. She became known as the "Cookie Lady" to the students because she rewarded them with homemade monster cookies.

Thelma will be lovingly remembered by her husband of more then 47 years, John; four children, Cathy Dattoli and her husband, Mark of Elmhurst, Illinois, Alan and his wife, Lori of Kanawha, Byron and his wife, Cindy of Pella and David and his wife, Melinda of Hull; eleven grandchildren; three brothers, Clarence Verhoef and his wife, Thelma of Sanborn, Vernon and his wife, Nan of Newark, New Jersey and Jerry and his wife, Deb of Hull; two sisters, Leanna Van De Stouwe and her husband, LeRoy of Rapid City, South Dakota and Esther Miller and her husband, Danny of Omaha; a sister-in-law, Rosalee Verhoef of Artesia, California; a brother-in-law, Harris Hubers of Minneapolis: and many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Herman Verhoef; and her sister, Jean Hubers.

March 19, 2009
Wright County Monitor - Iowa