Margaret J. Garretson

Rock Rapids, IA Margaret J. Garretson, age 77 of Rock Rapids, IA died Thursday, November 19, 2009, at the Sanford Hospital of Rock Rapids, after courageous battle with cancer. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Monday, November 23rd at the United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids, with Rev. Anita Bane officiating. Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids. Visitation will be Sunday, November 22nd from 2:00 " 6:00 PM, with the family present from 4:00 " 6:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home in Rock Rapids, IA. Margaret Mike Garretson was born November 3, 1932 in Sioux Center, IA to Henry and Cornelia (Van Velzen) Jansen. She was raised in the Sioux Center area and graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1950. In 1951 she was united in marriage to Randall Kooi, to which two children were born. On April 20, 1964 she was united in marriage to Kenneth Garretson in Houston, TX. Mike worked for 10 years at Princess Drive-in and for 18 years at Shell Oil as a data processor and senior clerk. Mike retired in November of 1991. Upon Kens retirement in 1999, they moved to Rock Rapids, IA. In the spring of 1992, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She went into remission and was cancer free until it returned in May of 2008. She put up a brave and courageous fight, with Ken and her family by her side. Ken unexpectedly passed away on September 27, 2009 after 45 years of marriage. Seven and a half weeks later, Mike passed away surrounded by her loving family. Mike enjoyed playing cards, dice, and doing jig-saw puzzles and cross-word puzzles. She enjoyed canning vegetables, pears, and applesauce. Her children and grandchildren will always remember her almond bars and patties. Mike loved to spend time with her husband, and she could be found many times sitting and watching Ken while he tinkered in his garage. She appreciated the time she spent with her family and loved seeing each and every one of them. She also had a special place in her heart for her dogs. Something she did not like was the coooold weather in Minnesota. Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and siblings will remember her as a soft-spoken, loving and gentle woman who will be deeply missed. Mike is survived by son, Verlyn (Brenda) Kooi of Edgerton, MN and daughter, Loann (Russ) Legler of Woodstock, MN; eight grandchildren, Brett Legler, Brigett Pantekoek, Brady (Kate) Legler, Shannon (Jason) Beal, Brooke Legler, Jordan Kooi, Caitlin (Greg) Arp, and Kellen Kooi; seven great-grandchildren, Megan Legler, Trevor Pantekoek, Marissa Pantekoek, Savannah Prins, Keaton Arp, Tucker Arp, and Rowan Beal; brother, Ed (Marie) Jansen of Clara City, MN; sister, Anna Marie Gortsema of Grangeville, ID; sisters-in-law Ruth Jansen of Hudson, SD and Winona Jansen of Sioux Center, IA; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ken; her parents, Henry and Cornelia; two infant sons, Randall Jay and Gary Ladean; brothers Cornie, Henry (JR.), and Donald; brother-in-law Raymond Gortsema; and two infant grandsons and one infant great grandson. ~ Mikes family would like to express special thanks to the wonderful care she received from the nurses and doctors in both Rock Rapids and Luverne.