Jeannette Balk, 95, of Fulton, IL, died Saturday, February 22, 2014, at Harbor Crest Home in Fulton.
Jeannette was born April 28, 1918, in Fulton, to William and Gertrude (Borgman) Venhuizen. She was educated in the rural Whiteside County grade schools. She married Marvin “Mike” Balk on May 2, 1941, in Albany, IL. He died January 7, 1995. Jeannette was a homemaker her entire life. She was a member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Fulton and the church’s Lydia Society and the Unity Christian School Ladies Auxiliary. Jeannette’s ministry was baking for family and friends. She enjoyed bird watching, nature, music, and reading.
Survivors include three daughters, Sharon (Terry) Braun of Fulton, Marva (Clint) Waldon of Howard City, MI, and Julie Damhoff of Fulton; one son, Bill (Lynda) Balk of Thomson, IL; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one sister, Harriet Norman of Erie, IL; one brother, Francis (Thelma) Venhuizen of Morrison, IL; two step-sisters, Gertrude VanZuiden and Alberta (Jay) Brondyke both of Fulton.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Marvin, two granddaughters, Angela Joy VanZuiden and Miracle Jubilee Waldon; one son-in-law, Larry Damhoff; two sisters, Grace Strating and Catherine Dykstra; two brothers, Fred Venhuizen and Jacob Venhuizen; one step-sister, Jeanette Wilkens; two step-brothers, Gerald Klooster and Harold Klooster.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:30a.m., Wednesday, February 26, 2014, at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church, Fulton, IL
CO-OFFICIATING: Rev. Kevin VerHoeven, Pastor: Bethel Christian Reformed Church, Fulton, IL, and Rev. Jim Jensen, Associate Pastor, Gateway Faith Fellowship, Fulton, IL
VISITATION: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 25, 2014, at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home
INTERMENT: Fulton Township Cemetery, Fulton, IL
MEMORIALS: Unity Christian School – Fulton, IL, and Harbor Crest Home, Fulton, IL