Henrietta Wassenaar

Hills, MN Henrietta Wassenaar, age 91 of Hills, MN died Thursday morning, April 16, 2015, at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, MN. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, April 20th at Steen Reformed Church in Steen, MN, with Rev. Grant Fischer officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, April 19th from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., with family present from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and again 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills. Henrietta Van Den Oever was born May 1, 1923 on the family farm near Hull, Iowa, the daughter of John and Kate (Korthals) Van Den Oever. She was raised on the farm and attended country school. After her education she worked for area families as a hired girl. She then worked at Hull Hospital as a cook for a few years. She was united in marriage to George Wassenaar on January 5, 1949 on her family farm. Following their marriage they moved to a farm near Hills, MN where they farmed there entire married lives. Henrietta was a member of Steen Reformed Church in Steen, MN and was active with the Ladies Aide. She enjoyed flower and vegetable gardens, cooking, baking breads and rolls from scratch, and canning meat. She was recognized as "Cook of the Week" in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader in May of 1988. Most of all she enjoyed taking care of her grandchildren. On October 9, 1999 Henrietta's husband George died after years of failing health. Henrietta remained on the farm for a next year before moving to Morningside Manor in Hills, MN. In May of 2003 she entered Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. While at Tuff she enjoyed many activities, one of the most memorable moments was when she was crowned Queen twice during nursing home week. On Thursday April 16,2015 Henrietta passed away at the Tuff Home at the age of 91 years 11 months and 15 days. She is survived by her three children, Marv Wassenaar of Luverne, MN, Robert "Bob" Wassenaar of Steen, MN and Glenda (husband Sam) McGaffee of Hills, MN; six grandchildren, Brenda (Todd) Wessels of Luverne, MN, Wendy (Brett) Stegenga of Luverne, MN, Nick Wassenaar of Sioux Falls, SD, Jessica Wassenaar of Minneapolis, MN, Katie McGaffee of Hills, MN, and Samantha McGaffee of Hills, MN; five great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; four sisters, Catherine DeWitt of Hull, IA, Joan Boeve of Hills, MN, Evelyn Rens of Hills, MN, LaVonne (Hilmore) Kroese of Hull, IA, along with one brother-in-law Anthony Smit of Hull, IA; and many nieces,nephews and other extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Kate Van Den Oever; her husband of fifty years, George Wassenaar; a granddaughter, Tamara Wassenaar; a great-grandson, Austin Wessels; one brother, John Mulder; and four sisters, Gert VanderVliet, Jean VanDerZwaag, Cynthia Oostra and Wilmina Smit. She will be deeply missed by many, but her memory will live on in her family and friends.