Johanna Braaksma

Sibley, IA Johanna Braaksma, age 90, of Sibley, IA died Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at Sibley Nursing & Rehab Center in Sibley, IA. Visitation will be Friday, Oct. 7th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. The family will gather at Jurrens Funeral Home in Sibley at 9:00 AM Saturday morning, Oct. 8th and proceed to Holman Township Cemetery for a graveside service. Following the grave side service a memorial service will be held at 11:30 AM at the Demco Center in Boyden, IA. A time for food and fellowship will follow the service at the Demco Center as well. Johanna Albertina Rosenthal was born March 5, 1921 in Litchville, North Dakota, the daughter of Peter and Dientje (Olthoff) Rosenthal. She was raised on a farm northwest of Litchville, ND and attended the Litchville Community School. In 1930 Johanna and her family moved to Hastings, MI, where she heard the Gospel and yielded her life to the Lord and continued faithfully to the end of her life. She graduated in 1940 from Woodland High School in Hastings. She continued her education at Detroit, MI where she studied for a year focusing on office administration. She then worked for the U.S. War Department in Detroit for the next five years. On January 15, 1946 Johanna was united in marriage to George Braaksma Sr. in Hastings, MI. The couple moved to a farm near Allendorf, Iowa where they lived and raised their family. The couple retired in 1979 and moved to a home in Sibley, IA. In May of 2010, Johanna and George moved to the Viola House in Sibley. In July of 2010, both George and Johanna entered the Sibley Nursing and Rehab Center in Sibley, where she remained until her death. Johanna was active with the Osceola Community Hospital Auxiliary and the Care Committee for the local nursing homes. She especially enjoyed time spent with family, friends and the workers of her faith. She enjoyed traveling, crocheting, reading and cooking meals. She will be remembered as a selfless person; for sharing their home with Georges brother Gerard and sister Margaret during the early years of George and Johannas marriage, and later caring for her own mother, and a close family friend, Gertrude Winney. Johanna is survived by her husband of sixty-five years, George Braaksma Sr. of Sibley, IA; and nine children, August Braaksma, Dianne (Roger) Birkhofer, Patricia (Bob) Dreesen, Mary (Don) Braasch, Gloria (Randy) Bartlett, George Jr. (Margie Newkirk) Braaksma, Bonita (Tim) Thomas, Betty (Tim) Kellen, and Barbara (Joel) Bosma; twenty grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; sister, Annie Stadel, many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Dientje Rosenthal, infant twin siblings; infant son, Arnold, infant daughter, Marjorie, and Brother-in-law Laverne Stadel.