Henry "Hank" Hielkema

Sibley, Iowa Henry Hank Hielkema, age 86 of Sibley, IA died Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at the Country View Manor in Sibley, IA. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Sunday, July 11, 2010 at the United Methodist Church in Sibley, with Dr. Robert J. Stemme officiating. Burial will follow in the Holman Township Cemetery of Sibley. Visitation will be Saturday, July 10th from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. Henry Hielkema was born on June 23, 1924 two and a half miles northeast of Melvin, Iowa, the son of Sam and Anna Hielkema. He and his family lived near Melvin for five years and then moved to a farm five and a quarter miles south of the Ocheyedan mound. Henry started school at the Baker Township number one country school. When he turned eight years old he and his family moved to a farm one and a half miles to the west. He finished the eighth grade and then attended Melvin High School and graduated in 1943. After graduating he farmed with his parents until 1954, when he was united in marriage to Dorothy Grace Schutt of Ashton on January 1, 1954 in the Trinity Reformed Church at Sibley, IA. The couple farmed on the home place until February 1989, when they moved into Sibley. Henry and Dorothy did some traveling in the United State and several countries in Europe. Henry served as a Deacon and Elder in the Trinity Reformed Church of Sibley and after the church closed they became members of the United Methodist Church of Sibley in August of 2000. Henry is survived by his brother, Gerrit (Johanna) Hielkema of Sibley, IA; nieces, Deb (Don) Breems of Harris, IA, Brenda (Keith) Michelson of Ocheyedan, IA, Cindy (Don) Thole of Melvin, IA, Joy (Rob) Schutt Hendrickson of Katy, TX; nephews, Gary (Karen) Hielkema of Sibley, IA, Kevin (Jodi) Schutt of Granger, IA; and seventeen grandnieces and grandnephews; sisters-in-law, Phyllis (Merle) Frette of Story City, IA, Norma Jean Schutt of Los Alamos, NM and Mrs. Arlyce (Maynard) Schutt of Sheldon, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy on October 15, 2007; and a sister in infancy.