Johanna Van De Kieft

Rock Rapids, Iowa Johanna Van De Kieft age 84 of Rock Rapids, IA died Tuesday, September 19, 2006, at the Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital in Rock Rapids, IA Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 25th at the First Reformed Church of Rock Rapids, with Rev. Dan Haggar, officiating. Burial will follow in Richland Cemetery at Inwood, IA. Visitation will be Sunday from 2-8 p.m. with the family present from 2-4 p.m. at the Roste Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. Johanna (DeHeer) Van De Kieft was born August 9, 1922, at Goudswaard, The Netherlands, the daughter of John and Sijtje (Schipper) De Heer. Johanna grew up in The Netherlands where she attended two years of school before coming to America. She continued her education at the Little Holland Christian School in Manhattan, Montana. Johanna was united in marriage to Henry Van De Kieft on May 8, 1941, at Artesia, CA. In 1950, they moved to Rock Rapids where they made their home and raised their children. Johanna was a homemaker and worked as a custodian at Kooiker Chevrolet in Rock Rapids for ten years. Johanna was an active member of the First Reformed Church and the Dorcus Circle. She enjoyed crocheting, going to dances with Henry, and playing games. In November of 2003, Henry died, ending their marriage of sixty-two years. Johanna continued to live in her home in Rock Rapids and kept busy with her pastimes and church activities. This past Tuesday she was admitted to the Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital in Rock Rapids were she died at the age of eighty-four. She is survived by her children, Marinus Van De Kieft and his wife, Harriet of Rock Valley, IA; Sadie Van Grootheest and her husband, Tony of Hardwick, MN; Joann Nielson and her husband, Carl of St. George, UT; and Henry Van De Kieft, Jr. and his wife, Marlys of Canton, SD; along with twelve grandchildren; and seventeen great grandchildren. Johanna was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Van De Kieft; parents, John and Sijtje DeHeer; and one brother, Leonard DeHeer.