Clarence Feikema

Hills, MN Clarence Fuzzy Feikema, age 90 of Hills, MN died unexpectedly Friday morning, February 29, 2008, at the Sanford Hospital in Luverne, MN. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 4th, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, IA with Rev. Dan Haggar and Rev. Katie Van Veldhuizen, officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery at Rock Rapids, IA. Visitation will be Monday, March 3rd, from 2:00 " 8:00 with the family present from 6:00 " 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills. Clarence Fuzzy Feikema was born January 24, 1918 on a family farm south east of Rock Rapids, Iowa, the son of William and Edith (Westra) Feikema. He attended the Rock Rapids Community School and helped his parents with the daily farm work. Fuzzy was united in marriage on February 14, 1941 to Gertrude Van Malsen at her parents home near Steen, MN. They began farming near Inwood, IA for a year, and then farmed a year south west of Hills, MN. They moved north of Rock Rapids, IA where they farmed for 14 years, until 1962, when they moved to a farm north of Hills and farmed for the next 21 years. Fuzzy and Gert were blessed with a daughter, Carol. During their years of farming they enjoyed many family gatherings, and also participated in a card club, where they played the game called Rook . Fuzzy and Gert retired from farming in 1983 and moved to a home in Hills, MN. Fuzzy always referred to farming as his hobby. During his retirement he also enjoyed wood crafts, attending softball games there in Hills and his twice daily coffee breaks up town with the boys. He was a member of the First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids. His family will remember their husband, father, grandfather, and brother for his sense of humor and his story telling. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Gertrude Feikema of Hills, MN; a daughter, Carol Childress of Rock Rapids, IA; three grandchildren, Douglas (Joley) Childress of Canton, SD, Cathy Childress of Vermillion, SD, and Curtis Childress of Commerce City, CO; a great-granddaughter, Kayla Childress of Omaha, NE; a step-great-grandson, Christopher Gibbons of Sioux Falls, SD; a brother, Bill (Alice) Feikema of Rock Rapids, IA; two sisters, Dorothy Overman of Hull, IA, and Edith McKinnon of Sioux Falls, SD; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; William and Edith Feikema; a granddaughter, Connie Childress; and two sisters, Ella Weerheim and Genevieve Spyksma.