Janet M. Huizenga, 93, of Morrison, IL, died Saturday, October 5, 2013, at Resthave Nursing Home in Morrison.
Janet was born September 26, 1920, in Garden Plain, IL, the daughter of Charles W. and Allie J. (Jansma) Huizenga. When Janet was five, she moved with her family back to the Prairie Center area. After the untimely death of her young father, they moved in with her grandparents. Janet attended Prairie Center School through eighth grade. After graduation from Morrison High School, she attended Central College in Pella, IA, for two years.
She was a teacher in the Fenton Schools and Center School. After four years of teaching, she went back to college, attending Hope College in Holland, MI. Upon graduation, she worked for 12 1/2 years in Nebraska at the Winnebago Indian Missions. In 1969, she earned her Master’s Degree in social work from the University of Nebraska. She moved to St. Paul, MN, where she worked for the United Church Committee for Indian Work for nine years, part of that time as the director, and then for the Ramsey County Human Services Department in St. Paul. While there, she worked with dysfunctional families and, later, with children and adults who were mentally handicapped. In 1987, Janet retired and returned to Morrison to care for her mother.
She was a member of Ebenezer Reformed Church in Morrison, and was totally involved in the life of the church. She belonged to Girls League, Lydian, and Ladies Aid. She had been an elder, Praise and Prayer Time leader, Secretary of Spiritual Life, Endowment Committee member, Ebenezer rep to Church Women United, and a Bible study leader. She enjoyed reading, sewing, and traveling.
Janet is survived by many cousins, including special caretakers Phil (Faye) Jansma and Carlene Pruis, both of Morrison.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 11, 2013, and the funeral at 10:30 a.m., Friday, at Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home in Morrison, IL. Ken Renkes, Director of Congregational Care at Ebenezer Reformed Church in Morrison will officiate.
Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison, IL.
A memorial has been established to Resthave Nursing Home in Morrison, IL.