Jennie De Koning

Rock Rapids, Iowa Jennie de Koning, age 89 of Rock Rapids, IA died on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at Rock Rapids Health Care Centre. Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 27th at The Reformed Church of Steen in Steen, MN, with Rev. Dan Haggar and Rev. Dan Kuik officiating. Burial will follow at Eastside Cemetery at Steen, MN. Visitation will be Friday, April 26th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Reformed Church of Steen at Steen, MN. Jennie de Koning was born April 5, 1924 at the family farm near Alvord, Iowa, the daughter of Peter and Marie (Schuurman) Brouwer. She attended country school and helped with the duties of the family and farm. Jennie was united in marriage to John de Koning on August 22, 1944 in Fresno, CA. After Johns honorable discharge from the service they returned to Lyon County and began farming. The couple were blessed with four children. Jennie was a previous member of the First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids, IA and most recently a member of The Steen Reformed Church. She also was a member of the Red Hat Society in Rock Rapids. She enjoyed shopping, flower gardening, ceramics, bus trips and following her childrens and grandchildrens activities. She was also an excellent seamstress. On December 19, 1993 her husband, John de Koning died after 49 years of marriage. In December of 2010 Jennie entered the Rock Rapids Health Care Centre. This past Thursday, April 25, 2013 Jennie died at the Rock Rapids Health Care Centre at the age of 89. She is survived by her four children, Doris Dumont and her husband, Tom of Bennington, NE, Marlene Baatz and her husband, Larry of Windsor, CO, Robert de Koning and his wife, Kathy of Rock Rapids, IA, and Gloria Van Roekel and her husband, Willie of Rock Rapids, IA. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren, Jeff Dumont, Todd Dumont and his wife, Staucia, Chad Dumont and his wife, Kelli, Dr. Joel Baatz and his wife, Amber, Lance Baatz and his wife, Melissa, Trent Baatz and his wife, Krista, Dr. Erin de Koning and her husband, Justin Reiter, Kristin de Koning, Amy De Boer and her husband Darrin, Amanda Huisman and her husband Chris, and Taylor Van Roekel; twenty-one great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one sister, Dorothy Sidles of Milford, IA; one brother, Jasper Brouwer and his wife, Jill of Lake Suzy, FL; one brother-in-law, Pete Hoff of Hills, MN; one sister-in-law, Nettie Brouwer of Rock Rapids, IA; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Marie Brouwer; her husband, John de Koning; two sisters, Henrietta Top and Pearl Hoff; and one brother, John Brouwer. Memorials may be directed to Sanford Hospice of Lyon County.