Edith (Van Dokkumburg) NIKKEL

VAN DOKKUMBURG, NAUTA, NIKKEL, SMITH, MARSHALL, BUSH, MULDER, KOOISTRA

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/7/2010 at 10:58:13

Edith Van Dokkumburg [Nikkel], passed away on Friday, February 12, 2010, at the Kanawha Community Home, at the age of 89. Edith was born on April 23, 1920 in Oosterend, The Netherlands. She was the second of six children born to Sytze and Jessie (Nauta) Van Dokkumburg. She, along with her parents and sibling, Ida, came to the United States when she was about two years of age. Edith attended schools in the Sioux County area. After graduating, she taught elementary at Sully Christian, Pella Christian, Pella Lincoln and the Kanawha Public School.

On June 11, 1943, she married the love of her life, John Nikkel. They were blessed to have four children, Doug (Helen) Nikkel of Clarion, Kris (Brent) Smith of Goldfield, Julie (Paul) Marshall of Cedar Rapids and Jim (Beckie) Nikkel of Santa Rosa, California. Edith was a devoted wife and mother, and her family was always her top priority. She played active roles in her church and community. Edith enjoyed music, was organist in church services, loved to write and was the founder and editor of the CRC Happenings for many years. She found fulfillment in gardening, flowers, homemaking and nurturing children and grandchildren. Those left to cherish her memory are her four children and their spouses; twenty grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; along with countless nieces and nephews.

Her surviving siblings are, Ida Bush of Highland, Indiana, Wilma Mulder of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Webb (Ruth Mary) Van Dokkumburg of Hendersonville, North Carolina and Stan (Mary) Van Dokkumburg of Jenison, Michigan. Preceding her in death were her beloved husband, John in 1997; her parents; sister, Jess Kooistra; and three brothers-in-law, Henry Bush, Lou Mulder and Dick Kooistra.

Edith was a true prayer warrior for her entire family and that will be greatly missed! Her energy, her sense of humor, her acceptance of all people, her devotion to family and love for her Lord, is the legacy she leaves.

February 25, 2010
Wright County Monitor - Clarion, Iowa