Jeannette Bielema-Vanderlaan, 97, of Resthave Nursing Home in Morrison, IL, died Saturday, August 22, 2015 at Resthave Home.
Jeannette was born July 14, 1918, in Friesland, Netherlands, to Peter and Anna (Postma) Dykstra. She was educated in the Bunker Hill and Cottonwood Schools in rural Whiteside County. In 1939 she married Andrew Bielema in Fulton, IL. He died November 11, 1954. She later married John Vanderlaan on January 12, 1962, in Fulton. He died April 25, 2002. Jeannette worked at Patent Novelty in Fulton and was a homemaker. She was a former member of First Christian Reformed Church in Fulton. She later became a member of Ebenezer Reformed Church in Morrison, where she was a member of the church’s choir and the Ladies Aid Society. She enjoyed crocheting and making quilts. Jeannette was an excellent baker and was well known for her pies.
Survivors include two daughters, Carol (Wayne) Meurs of Fulton and Donna (Irv) Schaver of Georgetown, TX; two sons, Delbert Bielema of Morrison and Don (Andra) Bielema of Sterling, IL; one step-daughter, Patricia (LaVerne) Pessman of Fulton; one step-son, David (Linda) Vanderlaan of Morrison; 12 grandchildren; one daughter-in-law, Nancy Bielema of Rockton, IL; 25 great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; six step-great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Marianna Smith of Morrison and Mrs. Betty Boelkens of Fulton.
She was preceded in death by both husbands, Andrew Bielema and John Vanderlaan; one son, Willard Bielema; one step-daughter, Janet Vanderlaan; three grandchildren, Rodger Meurs, Greg Meurs, Derek Schaver; two sisters, Rose Zuidema and Sadie Deelsnyder; two brothers, Sidney and Frank Dykstra; one great-grandson, Samuel James Gilmer; one step-great-granddaughter, Amanda Vanderlaan.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 25, 2015, at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home
OFFICIATING: Ken Renkes, Director of Congregational Care at Ebenezer Reformed Church
VISITATION: 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 25, 2015, until the time of the service at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home
INTERMENT: Fulton Township Cemetery, Fulton, IL
A memorial to Resthave Home, Morrison, IL, has been established.