Gerrit Hielkema

Sibley, IA        Gerrit Hielkema, age 90 of Sibley, IA died Thursday, September 1, 2016, at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, IA.        Funeral service will be 2:30 p.m., Monday, September 5th at First Reformed Church of Sibley, with Reverend Luke Schouten officiating.        Burial will follow at the Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley.        Visitation will be Sunday, September 4th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley.      Gerrit Hielkema was born on June 4, 1926 by Melvin, IA, the son of Sam and Anna Hielkema. He grew up on a farm by Melvin and attended country school and graduated from Melvin High School. He entered the U.S. Army on October 31, 1945 and was honorably discharged on February 4, 1947. Gerrit was united in marriage to Margaret Vogel in 1957. Margaret passed away in 1962. On August 11th, 1969 Gerrit married Jo (Vander Stelt) Burghgraef in Sioux Center, IA. Gerrit was a farmer his entire life. Gerrit was a member of the First Reformed Church in Sibley. His hobbies included woodworking, fishing and wintering in Texas with Jo. He will be remembered as a man with practical wisdom and a soft heart. This past Thursday Gerrit passed away at the Osceola Community Hospital at the age of 90. He will be greatly missed.        Gerrit is survived by his wife of forty-seven years, Jo Hielkema of Sibley, IA; four children, Debbie (Don) Breems of Spirit Lake, IA, Brenda (Keith) Michelson of Ocheyedan, IA, Cindy (Don) Thole of Melvin, IA, Gary (Karen) Hielkema of Sibley, IA; 13 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, Sarah (Chris) Diekevers of Boyden, IA, Laura (Ryan) Olson and their daughter Olivia of Lake Park, IA, Jason Breems of Spirit Lake, IA, Kevin Michelson of Ocheyedan, IA, Kaitlin Michelson and Fiancé Ryan Sederquist of Luverne, MN, Shannon Michelson of Ocheyedan, IA, Brian Thole of Ashton, IA, Karla (Nick) Bechtold and their son Grayson of Sioux City, IA, Paul (Megan) Thole and their sons Jaxon and Zachary of Sibley, IA, Steven (Amanda) Thole and their daughters, Amy and Maddison all of Little Rock, IA, , Garrison Hielkema of Ocheyedan, IA, Karissa (John) Lorenzen of Kirksville, MO, Kalsey Hielkema of Sibley, IA; and many other extended family members.      He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Anna Hielkema; wife, Margaret Vogel; great-granddaughter, Autumn Diekevers; infant sister, Tina Ann; and brother, Henry (Dorothy) Hielkema.